Mistori?  of  the  (Bongreoational 
Society  in   ^ontere^,  flDass. 


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tbe  Hnnif  ersarg  E jerctses,  ®ct.  1 0  an6  1 1 , 1 900 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
AT  AMHERST 


UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

Special  Collections  &  Rare  Books 


REV.  JOHN  DOOLY, 


'i«*y. 


/iA-  yaiiffi,^^ 


HISTORY 


FIRST 


CONGREGATIONAL 


SOGIETY 


m   MONTEREY,  MASS., 


WITH  BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  AND 
ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES 
OCTOBER  lo  AND  ii,  1900 


GREAT  HARRINGTON,  MASS.: 

COURIER   BOOK   AND   JOB   PRESS. 
1900. 


PREFACE. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  First  Congregational  church  in  Monterey, 
Mass..  held  December  15,  1899.  it  was  resolved:  That  in  view  of  the  150th 
anniversary  of  this  church  in  October,  1900,  the  prudential  committee  be 
empowered  to  appoint  a  committee  on  church  history.  The  prudential 
committee  met  and  appointed  the  committee  as  follows:  Rev.  John  Dooly, 
Marshall  S.  Bidwell,  Henry  W.  Langdon,  Miss  Jessie  A.  Townsend. 

This  Committee  now  places  before  the  friends  of  the  church  the 
results  of  their  labor  and  search.  They  are  greatly  indebted  to  former 
writers  for  information  gleaned  from  "The  History  of  Berkshire  County," 
printed  in  1829,  as  also  the  history  printed  in  1885.  They  are  also  thank- 
ful to  the  many  friends  who,  in  response  to  request  for  historical  reminis- 
cences by  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  for  the  anniversary  exercises, 
have  given  many  facts  of  rare  interest  not  hitherto  printed.  .  This  History 
before  its  final  issue  from  the  press  was  read  to  the  congregation  with  a 
view  to  accuracy  of  facts,  both  as  to  dates  and  details.  If  the  reader  de- 
tects any  inaccuracies  the  Committee  will  be  thankful  to  receive  informa- 
tion of  such  with  a  view  to  correction  in  the  copies  which  will  be  sent  to 
libraries  and  book  depositaries. 

This  History  is  given  to  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ  in  the  hope  and 
with  the  prayer  that  it  may  prove  a  stimulus  to  the  faith  and  endeavor  of 
those  bodies  of  believers,  who  in  the  midst  of  adverse  circumstances  are 
striving  to  maintain  the  institutions  of  the  Gospel  for  the  salvation  of 
their  fellowmen. 

JOHN  DOOLY, 
MARSHALL  S.  BIDWELL, 
HENRY  W.  LANGDON, 
JESvSIE  A.  TOWNSEND. 


FORM    OF   BEQUEST. 


I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  First  Congregational 
Society  of  Monterey,  IVlass.,  incorporated  under  the 
laws  of  the    State   of    Massachusetts    the    sum    of 

Dollars,  to  be 
applied  as  an  endowment  for  the  religious  purposes  of 
said  Society. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN. 


On  January  15,  1735,  the  Provincial  Legislature  voted  that 
four  towns  should  be  opened  on  the  road  between  Westfield  and 
Sheffield,  each  town  to  be  six  miles  square,  and  that  there  be 
sixty-three  home  lots  laid  out  in  a  compact  and  defensible 
form,  one  to  be  for  the  first  settled  minister,  one  for  the  second 
settled  minister,  one  for  the  school  and  one  for  each  grantee, 
which  shall  draw  equal  shares  in  all  future  divisions.  Security 
of  ^40  was  required  from  each  grantee  for  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  the  conditions  of  settlement. 

In  compliance  with  this  Act,  townships  No.  i,  (Tyring- 
ham),  No.  2,  (New  Marlboro),  No.  3,  (Sandisfield),  No.  4, 
(Becket)  were  laid  out  and  thus  the  settlements  of  the  Connecti- 
cut and  Housatonic  valleys  were  linked  together.  To  each  of 
these  townships  thete  was  afterwards  given  an  equal  share  in 
territory,  north  and  south,  purchased  by  Colonels  Ephraim  Wil- 
liams and  Nahum  Ward  from  the  Stockbridge  Indians  soon 
after  the  passage  of  the  act  authorizing  the  organization  of  the 
four  townships.  The  early  settlements  in  No.  i  were  all  made 
in  the  south  part,  (now  Monterey).  The  first  permanent  settlers 
were  Lieut.  Isaac  Garfield,  Thomas  Slaton  and  John  Chadwick, 
who  came  in  April,  1739.  Captain  John  Brewer  moved  into  the 
vicinity  of  Lake  Garfield,  then  known  as  Twelve-mile  Pond,  in 
August,  1739,  and  in  compliance  with  an  agreement  by  which 
he  received  certain  grants,  erected  a  sawmill  and  afterwards  a 
gristmill.  His  dwelling  was  the  first  frame  house  erected  in 
the  township.  Traces  of  it  may  still  be  seen  near  the  residence 
of  Francis  G.  Heath.  This  house  was  one  of  three  which  was 
fortified  and  garrisoned  during  the  French  and  Indian  War. 

The  first  road  through  the  town  and  over  the  Green  Moun- 
tain range  in  Berkshire  was  opened  in  1737.  In  1743  the  Royal 
Hemlock   road  to    Hop  Brook  was   opened.     In   1766  the    first 


schoolhoiise  was  built  near  the  Old  Centre.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
proprietors  held  in  Boston,  before  the  first  settlers  came  to  the 
town,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  meeting  house,  and  a  tax  was  levied 
on  the  proprietors  for  that  purpose.  The  site  chosen  was  a 
short  distance  south  of  where  B.  S.  Carrington  now  lives.  In 
1743  the  frame,  35x40  feet,  was  erected,  but  on  account  of  the 
fears  of  an  Indian  War  and  the  hardships  and  expenses  of  the 
French  War  it  was  not  completed  for  many  years.  The  date  of 
its  completion  is  not  known,  but  for  thirty-five  years  it  was  used 
as  a  place  of  worship.  According  to  a  census  taken  in  1765 
the  town  of  Tyringham  contained  fifty-one  houses,  fifty-five  fam- 
ilies, three  hundred  and  thirty-five  inhabitants .  The  entire  county 
now  known  as  Berkshire  contained  only,  3,159  inhabitants. 
On  April  12,  1847,  the  south  part  of  Tyringham  was 
formed  into  a  separate  township  by  general  request  of  the 
people.  This  town  was  named  Monterey  in  honor  of  the 
victory  won  by  General  Taylor  in  Monterey,  Mexico, 
in  1846.  In  1 85 1  by  mutual  request  of  the  two  towns 
the  north  part  of  New  Marlboro  was  annexed,  and  in  1874  a 
portion  of  Sandisfield  was  annexed.  There  are  high  hills  on  all 
the  boundaries  of  the  town,  thus  forming  an  elevated  valley  on 
the  eastern  part  of  which  lies  beautiful  Lake  Garfield,  called  in 
early  days  Brewer's  Pond,  about  one  and  a-half  miles  long.  In 
the  southwestern  part  of  the  township  is  Lake  Buel,  one-half  of 
which  is  in  New  Marlboro.  The  village  of  Monterey  lies  in  the 
lowlands  near  the  centre  of  the  valley.  It  contains  the  church, 
schoolhouse,  hotel,  store,  post  office,  sawmill,  blacksmith-shop, 
a  co-operative  creamery,  town  library  and  several  dwellings. 
Lake  Garfield  was  so  named  on  July  4,  1881,  two  days  after 
President  Garfield  was  shot  in  Washington,  D.  C.  James  A. 
Garfield,  when  a  student  in  Williams  College,  was  a  frequent 
visitor  to  this  section  where  he  had  several  distant  relatives.  A 
local  demonstration  had  been  planned  for  the  occasion  of  naming 
the  Lake  after  him,  but  the  day  was  greatly  saddened  and  the 
exercises  were  somewhat  modified  by  the  news  of  the  attempt 
on  the  President's  life. 

A  summer  settlement  named  Garfield  Park  was  opened  in 


t894  on  tlie  south  shore  of  the  lake  by  Rev.  W.  T.  Elsing  of 
New  York  City  and  George  L.  Keyes  of  Monterey.  Eleven 
•cottages  have  been  built  by  purchasers  of  lots.  Some  of  these 
cottages  are  very  ornamental  and  expensive.  They  are  being 
^improved  each  year  and  their  number  is  on  the  increase.  John 
H.  Parker  of  Boston,  who  has  been  a  summer  resident  here  for 
: several  years,  has  purchased  a  lake  property  which  he  will 
improve  by  the  erection  of  cottages  for  the  use  of  residents  of 
Boston.  Curtis  J.  Judd  of  Dwight,  Illinois,  has  built  a  very 
beautiful  residence  on  Rock  Ridge  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake 
at  a  cost  of  $45,000.  Miss  Janet  Waring  and  Miss  Frances 
Oilman  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  have  built  a  cottage  at  the  junction 
of^the  Sandisfield  and  Otis  roads  where  they  spend  about  three 
months  each  year  and  entertain  as  their  guests  many  of  their 
city  friends.  There  are  five  schools  in  the  township  with  an 
attendance  of  over  100  scholars.  For  the  year  ending  March 
26,  1900,  the  town  expended 

For  School  Purposes,  ^1,525-87 

For  Highways  and  Bridges,  937-22 

For  Other  Purposes,  1,700.24 

Total,  $4. 163.33 

The  total  assessed  valuation  of  the  town  is  $229,207. 

A  daily  mail  is  brought  by  the  stage  which  goes  regularly 
from  West  Otis  to  Great  Barrington  as  part  of  the  Adams 
Express  system.  A  long  distance  telephone  connects  with  the 
chief  cities  of  the  country.  From  three  to  four  hundred  summer 
boarders  spend  their  vacations  here  each  year.  The  air  of  this 
■section  is  dry  and  bracing  and  very  healthful,  owing  to  the  pine 
forests  and  the  elevation  above  sea  level  which  ranges  from  i,  100 
to  1.875  feet- 

The  views  of  landscape  both  near  and  distant  are  beautiful 
beyond  description.  When  the  State  Geological  Survey  party 
passed  through  Monterey  they  were  surprised;  when  they  reached 
the  top  of  Chestnut  Hill  their  delight  was  so  great  that  the 
leader  of  the  party  said  "There  is  nothing  in  the  state  which 
exceeds  that  view  of  landscape,  and  we  have  seen  only  four 
places  which  will  equal  it."     A  recent  visitor,  after  standing  in 


silence  for  a  few  minutes  said  "  That  is  beautiful;  it  exceedS' 
Greylock  Mountain  view."  The  soil  here  varies  from  a  heavy- 
loam  on  the  lower  farms  to  a  light  soil  on  the  upper  lands,  very 
suitable  for  grazing.  Good  crops  of  corn,  potatoes,  buckwheat, 
oats  and  garden  vegetables  may  be  grown,  but  the  seasons  are 
short.  J.  G.  Holland  in  1855  said,  " No  other  town  receives  a 
greater  number  of  premiums  at  the  annual  fair  for  agricultural 
products  than  Monterey. "  The  present  population  is  565.  Many 
descendants  of  the  early  settlers  still  reside  here.  There  are  in 
the  town  now  several  persons  over  80  years  age,  Henry  A. 
Stedman,  89  years  of  age,  being  the  oldest  resident.  Monterey 
in  the  last  twenty-five  years  has  changed,  as  have  most  rural  dis- 
tricts in  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States,  for  the  worse  in  the 
matter  of  population  and  manufacturing.  Formerly  there 
was  much  manufacturing  done  here,  now  there  is  none,  but  the 
property  in  the  town  is  being  improved  and  new  buildings  are 
annually  erected.  Very  few  of  the  farms  in  the  township  are 
idle.  The  general  tone  of  morals  is  good,  the  inhabitants  are 
orderly  and  law-abiding.  There  has  been  no  license  granted  in 
the  town  for  several  years.  The  prospects  are  that  Monterey 
will  become  each  year  more  popular  as  a  summer  resort  for  a 
good  class  of  city  people  who  will  prefer  the  quiet  of  this  place 
rather  than  the  crowd  and  noise  of  more  fashionable  resorts. 


THE  CHURCH 


Was  organized  September  25,  1750,  by  eight  persons  who 
•entered  into  church  relations  by  signing  the  following  covenant : 

COVENANT  OF  1750. 

We  whose  names  are  underwritten  apprehending  ourselves  called  of 
'God  unto  the  Church  state  of  the  Gospel,  do  acknowledge  our  unworthi- 
ness  of  so  great  a  favor  and  admire  the  riches  of  Divine  Grace  that  tri- 
umphs over  so  great  unworthiness.  and  would  humbly  depend  upon  the 
aids  of  Divine  Grace  to  assist  us  to  the  whole  of  the  business  of  the 
Christian  life,  and  thankfully  lay  hold  on  his  Covenant  and  would  choose 
the  things  that  please  God.  We  believe  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  be  the 
word  of  God  and  sincerely  resolve  to  conform  to  the  holy  rules  of  it  as 
long  as  we  live  without  making  any  additions  to  it  or  diminutions  from  it- 
We  give  up  ourselves  to  God  who  is  the  Father,  the  Son,  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  avouch  Him  tliis  day  to  be  our  God  and  Father  and  Leader 
.and  receive  Him  as  our  portion  forever. 

We  give  up  ourselves  to  Jesus  Christ  who  is  God  blessed  forevermore 
and  adhere  to  Him  as  the  head  of  His  church  in  the  covenant  of  Gracei 
and  take  Him  as  our  Prophet,  Priest  and  King,  and  depending  on  His 
Grace  and  help,  we  resolve  and  engage  to  walk  together  as  a  church  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  the  faith  and  order  of  the  Gospel,  conscientiously 
attending  the  public  worship  of  God,  the  Sacraments  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, walking  in  all  the  ordinances  of  the  Lord  blameless,  watching  over 
one  another  for  the  good  of  our  souls  and  submitting  to  the  government 
•of  Christ  in  the  holy  church,  and  to  train  up  our  children  in  the  nurture 
and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  begging  that  the  Great  Shepherd  would 
strengthen  us  for  every  good  work  to  do  his  will,  working  in  us  that  which 
is  well  pleasing  in  his  sight,  to  whom  be  glory  forever  and  ever.  Amen. 

ADONIJAH  BIDWELL 
-September  25,  1750.  EPHRAIM  THOMAS 

JOHN  JACKSON 
THOMAS  ORTON 
JOHN  CHADWICK 
WILLIAM  HALR 
JABEZ  DAVIS 
DAVID  EVEREST 


On  October  3,  the  same  year,  one  of  their  number  was  set 
apart  to  be  their  minister  as  certified  by  the  following  : 

THE  FIRST  MINISTER  INSTALLED- 1 750. 
At  a  Council  met  at  Number  oue  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  in  the- 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England  October  the  3rd,  1750, 
at  the  desire  of  the  inhabitants  of  said  township  to  ordain  Mr.  Adonijah, 
Bidwell  to  pastoral  office  there. 

Present  the  Revd  Messrs         and  messengers 
BENJAMIN  COLTON  EBENEZER  MIX 

JONATHAN  HUBBARD      DEACON  JAMES  DEWEY 
THOMAS  STRONG  DEACON  NATHAN  D.  HARMON- 

DEACON  JONAH  PIXLEY 

The  Council  understand  that  Mr.  Adonijah  Bidwell  who  had  been' 
chosen  and  called  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  this  place  had  the  appro- 
bation of  three  neighboring  ministers  as  to  his  qualifications  for  the  work 
of  the  ministry  and  having  received  satisfaction  concerning  his  knowledge 
and  soundness  in  the  faith  proceeded  at  the  desire  and  with  the  consent 
of  the  church  in  said  place  to  separate  him  to  the  work  of  the  Gospel 
ministry  among  them  by  prayer  and  the  imposition  of  hands. 

BENJA  COLTON,  Moderator 
THOS  STRONG,  Scribe 

Rev.  Adonijah  Bidwell  was  born  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  Octo- 
ber 18,  1716.  He  was  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1740.  In 
1 745  he  went  as  chaplain  under  Sir  William  Pepperel  to  the  cap- 
ture of  Cape  Breton.  From  1747  to  1750  he  preached  in  Sims- 
bury,  Conn.  During  the  early  part  of  the  year  1750  he  preached 
in  Kinderhook,  N.  Y.  Evidently  discerning  the  need  of  the 
gospel  ministry  in  the  new  settlement,  he  became  the  first  minister 
of  the  church. 

The  early  history  of  Berkshire  speaks  of  him  as  "greatly 
beloved  for  his  christian  friendship,  sound  judgment,  and  integ- 
rity." He  was  pastor  for  thirty-four  years,  during  which  time 
one  hundred  and  four  persons  had  united  with  the  church,  and 
three  hundred  and  seventy-eight  children  and  adults  had  been, 
baptized.  He  married  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  couples.  In 
consequence  of  wasted  strength  and  bodily  infirmities  he  was 
unable  to  officiate  regularly  the  last  two  years  of  his  ministry^ 
and  was  assisted  by  candidate  preachers.     He  died  June  2,  1784. 


15 

The  year  before  his  death  there  was  a  very  gracious  revival  of 
religion,  the  subjects  of  which,  thirty -one  persons,  were  added 
to  the  church  a  few  years  afterwards.  His  sermons  have  been 
preserved,  but  being  written  in  shorthand  are  not  readable. 
Some  of  these  sermons  are  in  the  Athenaeum,  Pittsfield.  At  the 
close  of  his  ministry  the  membership  was  thirty-six,  the  deaths 
and  removals  being  so  great  in  this  period.  Doubtless  during 
the  early  years  of  the  church  the  members  suffered  great  discom- 
forts in  their  attendance  on  worship,  vvhich,  owing  to  the  unfin- 
ished state  of  the  first  structure  must  have  been  conducted  in 
private  houses.  For  five  years  after  his  death  the  church 
employed  supplies.  On  February  25,  1789,  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Avery  previously  pastor  at  Alford  was  installed  as  pastor.  He 
wa^  "a  pious,  useful  respectable  minister,  good  in  council,  sincere 
and  friendly. ' '  His  service  of  nineteen  years  was  rewarded  by  the 
accession  of  seventy  members  to  the  church.  History  says  that 
near  the  end  of  his  ministry  a  controversy  arose  in  the  town  in 
opposition  to  him.  not  among  the  friends  of  order  and  religion, 
but  principally  among  those  who  did  not  attach  much  importance 
to  the  christian  ministry.  At  that  time  every  voter  was  taxed  a 
certain  amount  for  the  support  of  the  ministry.  An  article  was  in- 
serted in  the  warrant  for  town  meeting  "shall  Rev.  Jos.  Avery  be 
considered  any  longer  as  the  minister  of  the  town.''  At  the  town 
meeting  the  opposition  were  present  in  full  foice  and  accom- 
plished their  purpose  by  a  vote  of  sixty-nine  negative  to  sixty-six 
affirmative.  He  was  accordingly  dismissed  January  13,  1808.  The 
opposition  refused  to  assist  in  paying  the  arrearage  due  the  min- 
ister. He  instituted  a  civil  process  against  the  town  and  obtained 
judgment,  but  the  opposition  by  certificating  that  they  had  paid 
the  legal  sum  tor  that  purpose  iti  North  Tyringham  avoided 
paying  any  part  of  the  arrearages  due  him  and  thus  threw  the 
whole  burden  upon  his  adherants.  This  unhappy  state  of 
affairs  threatened  the  extinction  of  the  church,  but  the  faithful 
remnant  rallied  for  the  support  of  God's  cause  and  banded 
together  to  form  a  fund  for  the  permanent  support  of  the  gospel 
ministry.  The  following  is  the  agreement  with  the  li.st  of  con- 
tributors and  the  amount  they  subscribed: 


i6 

SUBSCRIPTION  FOR  CHURCH  FUND. 

"Tj-ringham,  November  15th,  1808. 

"The  subscribers  considering  it  to  be  both  a  duty  and  Privilege  to  be 
provided  with  a  stated  settled  Teacher  of  Piety  and  Religion,  do  hereby 
agree  to  raise  a  fund  not  exceeding  the  sum  of  Ten  Thousand  Dollars  for 
the  purpose  of  supporting  a  Congregational  Teacher  of  Piety  and  Relig- 
ion to  supply  the  Pulpit  and  Perform  the  Duties  of  a  Minister  in  what  is 
called  the  South  part  of  said  Town  forever. 

"And  to  effect  the  same  do  severally  agree  to  pay  the  sums  in  this  In- 
strument annexed  to  our  respective  names  or  give  sufficient  security  for 
the  payment  thereof  in  the  Judgment  of  the  Trustees  who  may  hereafter 
be  appointed  by,  or  agreeable  to,  an  act  of  Incorporation,  the  said  sums  to 
be  paid  or  security  for  the  payment  thereof  given  to  said  trustees  within 
three  months  after  said  Act  of  Incorporation  shall  be  obtained. 

'•If  the  Interest  is  Annually  paid  and  in  the  Judgment  of  the  Trustees 
the  Security  Sufficient,  the  principal  shall  not  be  called  for  within  fifteen 
years  from  the  time  the  Interest  begins,  but  to  be  Received  when  ten- 
dered by  any  subscriber. 

"No  subscription  is  to  be  received  for  a  less  sum  than  Sixteen  Dollars 
and  Sixty-seven  Cents  and  until  the  sum  to  be  founded  shall  amount  to 
Ten  Thousand  Dollars  no  person  other  than  a  subscriber  shall  be  entitled 
to  Vote  in  the  Society,  Saving  only  if  any  subscriber  assign  his  right  in  the 
fund  to  one  of  his  Heirs,  such  Heir  may  be  admitted  if  the  Society  Judge  it 
expedient. 

"If  the  annual  income  of  profit  arising  from  the  said  fund  shall  ever 
be  found  more  than  sufficient  for  the  support  of  a  Minister  the  Surplus  is 
to  be  laid  out  to  Repair  the  Meeting  House  or  for  such  Religious  purpose 
as  the  Society  shall  agree,  but  the  Trustees  shall  not  be  entitled  to  any 
Conipensation;for  their  services,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  fund,  and  if  they 
receive  any  it  shall  be  paid  by  the  Society  for  whose  benefit  the  fund  is 
Intended. 

"Provided,  nevertheless,  if  there  shall  be  not  Four  Thousand  Dollars 
be  subscribed  by  the  First  day  of  January,  next,  then  this  Instrument  he 
void  and  of  no  effect.     Otherwise  remains  in  full  force. 


Adonijah  Bidwell, 

$250.00 

John  Langdon, 

25.00 

Azariah  Orton, 

150.03 

Amasa  Curtis. 

33-33 

Eli  Picket, 

25.00 

Darius  Hibbins, 

25.00 

John  Brewer, 

25.00 

Joseph  Brewer,  Jr., 

65.00 

John  Jackson, 

45.00 

Charles  Jackson, 

60.00 

Ebenezer  Chadwick, 

100.00 

Jesse  Langdon, 

60.00 

Benjamin  Griffin, 

20.00 

Zebir.a  Curtis, 

25.00 

Ebenezer  Reuwu, 

100.00 

Salathiel  Hale, 

66.67 

John    Heath, 

30.00 

Isaac  Harmon, 

50.00 

Elisha  Taylor 

100.00 

Noah  Allen, 

103.33 

17 


Alvan  Taylor, 

1120  00 

Lysha  Taylor, 

50.00 

Elijah  Fowler, 

60  00 

Zadock  Reuwu, 

50.00 

Joshua  Brewer,  Jr., 

33-60 

Roswell  Richards, 

16.66 

Miller  Peck, 

25.00 

Benjamin  Warren,  Jr. 

78.33 

Asa  Fowler, 

41.67 

Isaac  Brewer. 

T6.66 

Jonas  Brewer, 

33-00 

Joseph  Chapiu, 

150.00 

Josiah  Hale, 

50.00 

Nathan  Hale, 

3500 

Lemuel  Townsend, 

I  GO.  00 

Josiah  Brewer, 

275.00 

Daniel  Brewer, 

33-34 

Joseph  Brewer, 

50.00 

Nathan  Merriam, 

33-33 

Joshua  Brewer, 

16.67 

John  Brewer, 

33  34 

"The  foregoing  is 

Abigal  Hale,  I50.00 

Amasa  Curtis,  Jr.,  30.00 

Thankful  Brewer,  20.00 

Amos  Langdon,  60  00 

Joseph  Avery,  75- 00 

Elisha  Garfield,  20.00 

Daniel  Garfield,  33-33 

Sanford  Gleason,  25.00 

Manash  Fairbank,  25.00 

Stephen  Brookin,  25.00 

Penuel  Hobbs,  50.00 

Samuel  Townsend,  630.00 

Asa  Bigelow,  78.33 

Samuel  Tibball,  78.33 

John  Bentley,  25.00 

Jedediah  Chapm,  21.66 

Elijah  Walter,  25.00 

Asa  Markham,  25.00 

Luther  Robinson,  33  34 

Ebenezer  Jackson,  50.00 

Alexander  Wheelock,  17.00 

1  true  copy. 

ASA  BIGELOW,  Clerk." 


And  under  another  date  the  record  of  the  women's  gifts  : 

"Tyringham,Sept.  23,  1809. 
"We  the  subscribers,  considering  it  a  duty  as  well  as  a  privilege  for 
every  Religious  Society  to  be  provided  with  a  public  teacher  of  Piety, 
Religion  and  Morality,  and  for  the  encouragement  thereof,  we  feel  willing 
to  contribute  our  mite  toward  increasing  the  Ministerial  fund,  raised  and 
now  raising  by  the  First  Congregational  Society  in  Tyringham  and  do 
hereby  promise  to  pay  each  one  the  sum  annexed  to  our  respective  names 
to  the  treasurer  of  Society  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  January,  next,  to 
be  under  the  care  and  direction  of  the  Trustees  for  the  management  of 
the  fund  : 


Mercy  Curtis, 

I5.00 

Achsah  Brewer, 

15- 00 

Olive  Chapin, 

5.00 

Anna  Wheelock, 

2.00 

Maienda  Richards, 

5-00 

Electa  Heath, 

2.00 

Amy  Richards, 

5-00 

Achsah  Hale, 

5-00 

Chloe  Hobbs, 

5.00 

Esther  Hale, 

6.00 

Puah  Reuwu, 

5-00 

Amelia  Bigelow, 

4.00 

Lucretia  Reuwu, 

2.00 

Vashti  Wheelock, 

2.00 

Chloe  Brewer, 

5.00 

Polly  Avery, 

2.00 

Betsy  Kingsbury, 

5.00 

Phoebe  Langdon, 

2.00 

i8 


Rhoda  Wheelock, 

I5.00 

Amy  Hurd, 

I2.00 

Margarite  Hatu, 

3.00 

Milly  Wheelock, 

3.00 

Pede  Wheelock, 

5.00 

Electa  Morse, 

2.00 

Lois  Wheelock, 

5.00 

Thankful  Brewer, 

2.00 

Lydia  Brewer, 

1. 00 

In  a  separate  place  without  date  are  these  names  as  later 
subscribers: 

Halsey  Tibbals,  $16.67  Cyrus  Towusend,  I50.00 

Samuel  Tibbals,  Jr.,  25.00  Millen  Sabina,  16.67 

Asa  G.Welch,  50.00  Harvey  Brewer,  33-33 

Paul  S.  Chapin,  16.67  Stephen  B.  Fairchild,  16.67 

Charles  Townsend,  16.67  Roswell  Bentley,  16.67 

Barnabas  Bidwell,  16.67 

On  June  15,  1809,  they  became  a  corporate  body  by  an  act 
of  the  state  legislature  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy  : 

COMMONWEALTH   OF   MASSACHUSETTS. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  ei3;ht  hundred  and  nine. 
An  Act  incorporating  the  first  Congregational  Society  in  the  town  of 
Tyringham. 

Section  i.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate,  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives, in  General  Court,  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same.  That 
Adonijah  Bidwell,  Azariah  Orton,  EH  Picket,  John  Reuwee,  Johnjackbon, 
Ebenezer  Jackson,  Ebenezer  Chadwick,  Benjamin  Griffin,  Ebenezer 
Reuwee,  John  Heath,  Elisha  Taylor,  Alvan  Taylor,  Lyster  Taylor,  Elijah 
Fowler,  Zadock  Reuwee,  Josiah  Brewer,  Jun. ,  Roswell  Richards,  Miller 
Peet,  Benjamin  Warren,  Jun.,  Isaac  Brewer,  Jonas  Brewer,  Joseph  Chapin, 
Josiah  Hale,  Lemuel  Towusend,  Nathan  Hale,  Josiah  Brewer,  Daniel 
Brewer,  Nathan  Merriam,  Joshua  Brewer,  John  Brewer,  John  Langdon, 
Amasa  Curtis,  Darius  Stebbius,  Charles  Jackson,  Jesse  Langdon,  Zebina 
Ctirtis,  Salathiel  Hale,  Isaac  Harmon,  Noah  Hale,  Abigail  Hale,  Amasa 
Curtis,  Jun.,  Thankful  Brewer,  Amo5  Langdon.  Moses  Bradley,  Joseph 
Avery,  Elisha  Garfield.  Daniel  Garfield,  Sanford  Gleason,  Manassah  Fair- 
banks, Stephen  Brookins,  Penuel  Hobbs,  Samuel  Townsend,  Asa  Bigelow, 
Samuel  Tibbals,  John  Bentley,  Jedidiah  Chapin,  and  Elijah  Walter,  be,  and 
hereby  are  incorporated  into  a  society  by  the  name  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational Society  in  the  Tozvn  of  Tyringham,  subject  to  the  duties,  and 
obligations  herein  after  mentioned,  and  vested  with  the  powers,  privileges, 
and  immunities  herein  after  specified,  and  all  others  which  are  common 
to  other  religious  societies. 

Sec  2.  Be  it  fvirther  enacted,  that  said  Corporation,  may  take  and 
hold  real  and  personal  estate  not  exceeding  at  any  time  the  value  of  ten 
thousand  dollars  in  the  whole,  the  income  of  which  shall  be  applied  to 


19 

the  support  of  a  Cougregatiouai  teacher  of  piety,  religion  and  morality, 
in  the  south  part  of  said  Town  of  Tyringham  forever,  and  if  it  shall  be 
more  than  sufficient  for  that  purpose,  the  surplus  shall  be  applicable  to 
repairs  of  their  meeting-house,  or  such  other  pious  uses,  as  the  said 
Society  shall  direct,  but  the  Trustees  thereof,  shall  not  receive  any  com- 
pensation to  be  paid  out  of  such  fund  for  their  services. 

Sec.  3.  Be  it  further  enacted  that  the  said  Society  may  at  their  first 
meeting  to  be  called  in  the  manner  herein  after  provided  for,  and  at 
their  annual  meeting  to  be  holding  on  the  first  Monday  of  January  every 
year,  appoint  a  Clerk  and  a  Treasurer  to  be  sworn  to  a  faithful  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices,  and  any  number  of  Trustees  not 
exceeding  seven,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  manage  the  fund,  and  the  pru- 
dential concerns  of  said  society,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  treasurer, 
to  prosecute  or  defend  any  action  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  said  society, 
and  at  any  later  meeting  lawfully  called  and  warned  for  that  purpose,  the 
said  society  may  dismiss  any  of  these  said  officers  and  supply  any  vacancy 
occasioned  by  such  dismissal,  or  by  death  or  otherwise,  ana  may  also 
appoint  any  other  officers  which  they  shall  judge  necessary  or  proper  to 
effectuate  the  purposes  of  their  incorporation. 

Sec.  4.  Be  it  further  enacted  that  the  said  society  be  and  hereby  are 
empowered  to  recover  and  receive  the  sums  of  money  respectively  sub- 
scribed for  the  use  of  said  society,  before  this  act  of  incorporation  —  by 
the  several  persons  hereby  incorporated  —  acceding  to  the  terms  of  the 
subscription,  and  to  take  security  either  real  or  personal  for  the  same. 
Conditioned  that  if  the  interest  be  paid  annually  on  or  before  the  first 
Monday  of  January  every  year  the  principal  shall  not  be  called  for  within 
fifteen  years,  except  at  the  request  of  a  surety  or  when  in  the  judgment 
of  the  trustees  the  security  shall  be  insufficient,  in  which  case  the  principal 
may  be  demanded  and  collected  at  any  time,  and  the  principal  as  well  as 
interest  shall  be  received  whenever  tendered  to  the  treasurer  of  said 
society. 

Sec.  5.  Be  it  further  enacted,  that  the  said  society  may  obtain  and 
receive  further  subscriptions  and  donations  provided  their  whole  fund 
shall  not  exceed  the  aforesaid  amount  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  may 
by  vote  admit  other  subscribers  and  the  heirs  of  subscribers  to  be  members 
of  the  Sdid  society. 

Sec.  6  Be  it  further  enacted,  that  each  member  of  the  said  society 
and  no  other  person  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  in  their  meetings. 

Sec.  7.  Be  it  further  enacted,  that  any  three  of  the  persons  hereby 
incorporated,  may  call  a  meeting  of  the  said  society,  to  be  holden  at  such 
time  within  three  months  and  at  such  place  within  said  town  of  Tyring- 
ham as  they  may  judge  most  convenient,  by  posting  up  notifications  of 
the  time,  place,  and  purpose  of  said  meeting  in  two  or  more  public  places 
in  said  town,  fourteen  days  at  least  before  the  time  of  holding  the  same 


20 

at  which  meeting  the  said  society  may  establish  the  mode  of  calling  and 
warning  future  meetings. 

Sec.  8.  Be  it  further  enacted,  that  the  books  of  record  and  of 
account  of  the  said  society  shall  be  laid  before  them  at  their  meetings,  on 
the  first  Monday  of  January  annually  by  the  clerk  and  treasurer,  and 
shall  at  all  times  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  the  Legi-^lature  or  any  com- 
mittee appointed  for  that  purpose  by  the  Legislature  as  well  as  of  the 
trustees  or  committee  of  said  society. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  June  15th,  1809. 
This  bill  having  had  three  several  readings  passed  to  be  enacted. 

TIMOTHY  BIGELOW,  vSpeaker. 
In  Senate,  June  15th,  1809. 
This  bill  having  had  two  several  readings  passed  to  be  enacted. 

H.  G.  OTIS,  President. 
June  15th,  1809.     Approved. 

C.  GORE. 
Sec.  T's.  Office,  July  ist,  1809. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Original  Act. 
Attest.  WILLIAM  TUDER,  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Secretary. 
Attest.  ASA  BIGELOW,  Clerk  of  the  Society. 

By  Chapter  III  of  the  Acts  of  1851   the  title  of  this  society 
was  chansred  to  The  First  Consrreo^ational  Society  in  Monterey. 


At  the  time  of  Mr.  Avery's  dismission  the  membership  was 
twenty  men  and  forty  women,  but  the  zeal  of  the  people  being 
greatly  quickened  by  their  adversity  and  the  heroic  effort  to 
secure  a  permanency  for  the  support  of  the  gospel,  a  revival  of 
religion  graciously  visited  them  from  which  ninety-six  persons 
united  with  the  church  during  that  year.  In  this  awakening  it 
is  remarkable  that  the  blessed  influences  of  grace  were  limited 
to  those  who  regularly  attended  divine  worship  and  contributed 
to  its  support,  while  those  who  had  joined  the  opposition  were 
passed  b}^  unbenefitted. 

Rev.  Joseph  Aver}^  continued  to  live  in  the  town  and  was  a 
subscriber  to  the  fund  as  was  also  his  daughter  Polly.  He  died 
March  3,  18 14,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  near  where  the 
Second  church  stood 

Rev.  Joseph  Warren  Dow  was  ordained  as  pastor  July  10, 
181 1.     He  was  a  graduate   of  Harvard    in    1805.     During   his 


pastorate  there  were  several  revivals  of  religion  as  follows:  1816 
from  which  thirty-five  united  with  the  church  ;  18 18,  fourteen 
united  with  the  church;  in  1821  a  very  deep  work  of  grace,  exten- 
sive in  its  reach,  great  in  its  power  and  purity,  resulted  in  the 
accession  of  fifty  members  to  the  church  the  following  year.  In 
1827  a  revival,  short  in  its  duration,  but  powerful  in  its  progress, 
succeeded  a  period  of  spiritual  dearth  and  thirty-three  persons 
confessed  their  faith  by  fellowship  with  the  church.  All  these 
revivals  save  the  latter  began  in  the  south  part  of  the  town  and 
extended  to  the  north.  In  1814  a  serious  epidemic  prevailed 
through  the  town  and  resulted  in  the  death  of  over  fifty  persons. 
At  the  ordination  of  J.  Warren  Dow  the  sermon  was  preached 
by  Rev.  Josiah  Webster,  A.  M.,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Hamp- 
ton, New  Hampshire,  from  the  text,  Ezekiel  37  :  1-4  verses  and 
loth  verse.     We  give  the  closing  sentences  of  the  sermon  : 

Dear  Brethren  and  Friends  of  this  Church  and  Society  : 

On  the  present  occasion,  we  tender  you  our  sincere  congratulations. 
We  think  you  have  cause  for  gratitude  and  joy. 

Is  it  the  sovereign  purpose  of  God  to  build  up  his  church  in  the 
world  ?  Are  gospel  ministers  to  be  instruments  in  accomplishing  this 
glorious  purpose  ?  The  settlement  of  a  gospel  minister  then  is  cause  of 
gratitude  and  joy.  Such  an  event  furnishes  ground  of  confidence  that 
God  still  loves  his  church,  and  that  he  is  carrying  on  his  great  designs. 

Beloved,  do  not  the  solemnities  of  this  day  impress  your  hearts  ?  Does 
not  the  present  scene  intimate  some  kind  design?  If  you  mark  the  foot- 
steps of  providence  in  connection  with  inspired  truth,  may  you  not  hope 
that  God  has  thoughts  of  merc}'  concerning  you  ?  May  you  not  hope  to 
see  the  remaining  dry  bones  of  this  pleasant  valley  shake  and  start  into 
life?  May  you  not  hope,  that  the  work  of  God  will  prosper,  as  in  months 
which  are  past ;  and  that  much  may  be  done  to  extend  the  Redeemer's 
Kingdom  here? 

Your  pastor  elect  is  before  you.  We  confidently  hope,  that  he  will  be 
a  faithful  ministtr  of  Christ  ;  a  minister  who  will  feed  you  with  knowl- 
edge and  understanding  ;  a  workman  who  needs  not  to  be  ashamed  ;  and 
as  such  we  recommend  him  to  your  most  cordial  friendship.  Take  him 
to  your  hearts.  Esteem  him  highly  in  love  for  his  work's  sake.  And 
while  he  ministers  to  you  in  spiritual  things,  do  not  forget  to  minister  to 
him  in  temporal  things  as  necessity  requires.  If  you  wish  his  labors 
among  you  to  be  a  blessing,  you  must  treat  him  as  God  commands  you- 
You  must  be  kind,  forbearing,  long  suffering,  peaceable,  and  not  covetous. 
The  ivisdom  from  above  is  pure,  peaceable,  gentle,  easy  to  be  entreated,  full 


of  mercy  avd  good  fruits.,  without  partiality  and  without  hypocrisy.  Let 
this  wisdom  direct  your  coudiict  towards  j^our  minister.  Carr}-  him 
always  in  your  prayers  to  the  throne  of  grace.  Strengthen  his  hands  and 
encourage  his  heart  by  your  persevering  attention  to  all  his  necessities  ; 
but  especially,  by  a  diligent  and  candid  hearing  of  the  great  truths  of 
God's  word  which  he  may  preach. 

He  will  be  a  savor  of  life,  or  a  savor  of  death.  Must  not  the  solemn 
thought  impress  your  minds  ? 

Desr  brethren,  keep  in  view  the  solemn  scene,  when  ministers  and 
people  must  appear  together,  before  the  dread  tribunal  of  au  Almighty 
God  and  Judge.  The  Lord  make  you  faithful.  The  Lord  bless  you  and 
preserve  you  to  his  everlasting  kingdom. 

But  allow  me  a  word  to  this  numerous  and  respected  assembl}-. 

To  the  friends  of  God,  our  subject  is  full  of  consolation  Do  clouds 
of  moral  darkness  hang  thick  around  us?  Are  the  enemies  of  truth 
numerous,  bold,  active,  persevering?  All  their  counsels  will  be  turned 
into  foolishness.  The  gates  of  hell  cannot  prevail  against  the  Church; 
Fear  not  ye  precious  few,  who  follow  Jesus.  He  is  an  Almighty  con- 
querer.  God  is  your  Saviour.  He  has  determined  that  multitudes,  who 
are  dead  in  sin,  shall  be  made  alive.  They  must  live.  The  triumphs  of 
the  cross  will  extend  from  tbe  rising  to  the  setting  sun.  The  time 
approaches,  when  there  will  be  shaking  among  the  dry  bones  of  all  our 
valleys.  The  time  has  already  come,  when  there  is  a  shaking  among 
Churches,  sects,  and  denominations  —  a  shaking  among  nations,  king- 
doms, and  empires.  Some  have  already  arisen  to  spiritual  life.  Symp- 
toms of  life  appear  in  others.  And  soon,  very  soon,  we  expect  the  day 
when  an  army  of  countless  numbers  will  rise  from  spiritual  death  to  show 
forth  the  power,  and  proclaim  the  glory  of  the  life-givmg  Saviour.  Lay 
down  then,  O  ye  rebels  to  Jehovab,  lay  down  your  weapons.  Your  con- 
test is  altogether  vain.  Christ  fesi/s  rs  King  in  Zion.  You  must  submit. 
or  die,  and  die  eternally. 

The  charge  to  the  pastor  was  given  by  Rev.  Jacob  Catlin  ot' 
New  Marlboro  as  follows  : 
Reverend  Sir  : 

Having  been  set  apart  to  the  important  office  of  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ,  dy  prayer,  and  the  taying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  Presby- 
tery ;  and  ordained  pastor  of  the  fiock  of  Jesus  Christ  in  this  place  ;  it 
remains,  that  we  now  solemnly  charge  you,  before  God  and  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  judge  the  quick  and  dead,  at  his  appearing  and 
kingdom  ;  and  before  the  elect  angels,  and  this  numerous  assembly,  that 
you  take  heed  to  the  ministry  which  you  have  received  of  the  Lord,  faith- 
fully to  fulfil  it. 

We  charge  you.  Sir,  in  particular,  that  you  ^r^af  A  the  word ;  be  instant 
in  season,  and  out  of  season  ;  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  ivith  all  long  suffer- 


23 

ttig  and  doctriJie.  Testify  to  all,  repentance  towards  God,  aud  faith 
towards  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Study  to  show  yourself  approved  unto  God,  a  workman  that  needeth 
not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly  dividinj^  the  word  of  truth.  Preach  the  word 
plainly,  unreservedly,  and  feelingly.  Foolish  aud  unlearned  questions 
avoid;  but  avoid  nothing  which  is  clearly  revealed  in  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures. 

Exhibit  the  high  aud  holy  character  of  the  one  God,  in  three  persons, 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.  Illustrate  the  divine  law,  both  in  its  strict 
requirements,  and  awful  sanctions.  Labor  to  convince  the  impenitent 
of  the  total  depravity  of  their  hearts,  and  of  their  exposedness  to  endless 
misery. 

Preach,  distinguishly,  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  Explain  and  prove 
the  all-important  doctrines  of  the  atonement ;  and  forgiveness  of  sin,  only 
by  the  vicarious  sufferings  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Teach  the  necessity  of  regeneration,  by  the  special  agency  of  the  Holy 
Spirit;  and,  at  the  same  time,  urge  the  calls  and  requirements  of  the 
gospel. 

Proclaim  the  all-sufficiency  of  Christ,  and  his  willingness  to  save  to 
the  uttermost,  all  that  come  unto  God  by  him.  Fasten  on  every  man's 
conscience  the  blame  and  guilt  of  his  own  wickedness. 

Be  also  a  faithful  instructor  and  guide  to  the  convicted  sinner  ;  and 
direct  him  to  the  crucified  Saviour,  as  his  only  hope. 

Feed  aud  edify  the  friends  of  Christ,  with  the  same  precious  truth, 
which  alarms  and  solemnizes  the  impenitent.  Speak  comfortably  to 
Zion  ;  and  by  the  great  and  precious  promises  of  God,  animate  the  hearts 
of  desponding  christians.  Inculcate  holiness  of  life,  and  brotherly  love, 
upon  all  who  have  named  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.  We  also  change  you, 
Sir,  to  attend  most  carefully  to  the  edification  and  discipline  of  the 
church.  Build  the  temple  of  the  Lord  with  hewn  stones ;  with  lively 
stones.     Build  not  this  spiritual  temple  with  wood,  hay  and  stubble. 

We  charge  you,  also,  to  take  heed  to  yourself,  as  well  as  to  your 
doctrine  and  discipline.  "  For  a  bishop  must  be  blameless  as  the  steward 
of  God.''  In  all  things,  therefore,  show  yourself  a  pattern  of  good  works. 
Be  thou  an  example  of  the  believers,  in  word,  in  conversation,  in  charity, 
in  spirit,  tn  faith,  tn  purity.  Meditate  upon  these  things ;  give  yourself 
wholly  to  them,  that  your  profiling  may  appear  unto  all. 

We  also  charge  you,  Sir,  to  visit  the  sick  and  dying,  and  to  labor,  by 
instruction,  consolation  and  prayer,  for  their  spiritual  good. 

We  charge  you,  moreover,  to  administer  the  holy  ordinances  of 
Christ,  baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper,  to  all  persons  qualified  according 
to  the  gospel. 

And  finally  ;  should  you  be  called  of  God  to  ordain  others  to  this 
sacred  office,  we  charge  you  to  lay  hands  suddenly  on  no  man;  but  to 


24 

commit  this  sacred  charge   to  faithful   men.   who  shall   be   able   to  teach 
others  also. 

And  now,  Dear  Sir,  if,  by  divine  grace,  you  shall  be  enabled  to  keep 
this  charge,  which  we  have  committed  unto  you.  to  feed  the  flock  of  God, 
taking  the  oversight  thereof,  not  by  constraint,  but  willingly  ;  not  for 
filthy  lucre,  but  of  a  ready  mind,  neither  as  being  lord  over  God's  heri- 
tage, but  being  an  example  to  the  flock;  then,  when  the  chief  shepherd 
shall  appear,  you  shall  receive  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away. 

The  Rev.  Alvan  Hyde  of  L,ee,  Mass.,  gave  the  Right  Hand 
of  Fellowship  as  follows  : 
Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

I  now  arise,  by  the  appointment  of  this  Ecclesiastical  Council,  and  as 
their  organ,  to  give  you  a  public  testimonial  of  the  fellowship  of  the 
Churches.  This  is  an  endearing  part  of  the  solemnities  of  the  present 
occasion,  and  peculiarly  calculated  to  excite  tender  emotions,  in  the 
minds  of  all  the  truly  pious. 

The  kingdom  of  oi:r  once  crucified,  but  now  ascended  Lord  and 
Redeemer  is  founded  on  the  pure  principle  of  disinterested  benevolence. 
It  is  a  kingdom,  which  the  God  of  heaven  hath  set  up,  and.  as  it  is 
erected  on  the  firm  basis  of  holy  love,  it  will  stand  forever.  The  king- 
doms of  this  world,  and  all  associations  of  men,  formed  on  other  prin- 
ciples than  that  of  benevolence,  will  soon  find  themselves  in  everlasting 
anarchy  and  confusion.  The  members  of  ChrisVs  kingdom,  allied  to 
each  other  by  that  "  charity,  which  seeketh  not  her  own,"  "and  which  is 
the  bond  of  perfectness,"  have  s,  joint  interest.  They  love  each  other, 
and  rejoice  in  each  other's  prosperity.  They  have  fellowship  with  the 
Father  ;  and  are  deeply  interested  in  his  character  ;  in  his  honor  and 
glory.  They  have  fellowship  with  Christ  in  his  sufferings,  being  made 
conformable  unto  his  death.  Speaking  of  the  high  and  distinguishing 
privileges  of  the  saints,  the  beloved  disciple  of  our  Lord  observes — 
"  That  which  we  have  seen  and  heard  declare  we  unto  you,  that  ye  also 
may  have  fellowship  with  us  ;  and  truly  our  fellowship  is  with  the 
Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ."  The  same  disciple  observes 
farther—  "  If  we  walk  in  the  light,  as  he  is  in  the  light,  we  have  fellow- 
ship one  with  another ;  and  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  us  from 
all  sin."  This  fellowship  and  communion  of  saints,  which  is  begun  in 
this  lower  world,  will  be  perfected  and  continue  forever,  in  the  world  of 
light  and  glory. 

Perceiving,  Rev.  Sir,  the  grace,  which  is  given  unto  you,  and  satis- 
fied, as  to  your  qualifications,  for  the  great  and  good  work,  to  which  yoir 
are  now  set  apart,  I  give  you  this  RIGHT  HAND.  I  do  it,  in  the  name, 
and  by  the  direction,  of  the  Council,  here  convened  ;  bidding  you  wel- 
come, as  a  labourer  in  the  vinevard  of  our  common  Lord. 


25 

As  James,  Cephas  aud  John  gave  Paul  and  Barnabas  the  right  Hands 
of  fellowship,  that  they  should  go  unto  the  heathen,  to  open  their  ej-es, 
and  turn  them  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto 
God  ;  so  the  right  Hand  of  fellowship  is  given  to  you,  that  you  should 
labour,  in  the  Lord,  among  this  people,  and  in  other  places,  where  you 
may  be  occasionally  called.  This  solemn  and  significant  rite  implies 
mutual  love  and  friendship,  and  mutual  obligation.  We,  hereby,  pub- 
licly acknowledge  and  receive  you,  as  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  —  our 
equal,  our  brother.  We  promise  you  that  benevolent  assistance,  which 
the  nature  of  the  ministerial  office  requires,  and  we  expect  the  same  from, 
you.  God  grant,  that  we  may  live  in  love  and  peace,  and  greatly  strengthen 
each  other's  hands.  "  Behold  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren 
to  dwell  together  in  unity  !  It  is  like  the  precious  ointment  upon  the 
head,  that  ran  down  upon  the  beard,  even  Aaron's  beard;  that  went  down 
to  the  skirts  of  his  garments:  As  the  dew  of  Hermon,  and  as  the  dew 
that  descended  upon  the  mountains  of  Ziou  ;  for  there  the  Lord  com- 
manded the  blessing,  even  life  forever  more." 

We  congratulate  you  upon  the  pleasing  prospect  of  usefulness,  which 
opens  to  your  view,  this  day,  in  being  inducted  into  the  pastoral  office 
over  this  church,  which  we  also  publicly  acknowledge,  as  a  sister  church, 
and  in  the  prosperity  of  which  we  feel  a  deep  and  lively  interest.  May 
you  be  favored  with  an  eminent  portion  of  the  spirit  of  Christ,  and  have 
many  souls  as  the  seals  of  your  ministry  and  crown  of  rejoicing  in  the 
day  of  the  Lord. 

During  his  pastorate  of  nearly  twenty  two  years,  one  hundred 
and  ninety-three  persons  united  with  the  church,  of  which  only 
one  Penuel  Hobbs  of  Kalamazoo,  Michigan),  is  now  living. 
Mr.  Dow  died  in  Monterey  January  9,  1833,  greatly  loved  and 
lamented  by  the  people  whom  he  had  served  so  faithfully. 

These  first  three  pastors  lived  and  died  with  the  people  they 
loved  and  served,  two  of  them  spent  all  their  life  here  having  had 
no  other  charge  as  pastors  during  their  ministerial  career. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  pastors  and  supplies  who  to  the 
present  time  have  served  the  church  as  also  the  term  of  their 
service. 

One  of  these,  Rev.  Wiuthrop  H.  Phelps  has  made  a  most 
valuable  addition  t.;  the  archives  of  the  town  by  copying  the  list 
of  births,  deaths  and  marriages  from  the  year  1750  to  1785.  Others 
are  specially  referred  to  in  the  extracts  from  letters. 

Adouijah  Bidwell, 1750 — 1784 

Joseph  Avery,    ......      1789 — 1808 


26 


Joseph  Warren  Dow. 
Lucius  Field,     . 
Alvau  Page, 
Samuel  Howe, 
Winthrop  H.  Phelps 
Scott  Bradley, 
H.  Winslow, 
D.  W.  Timlow, 
James  A.  Clark, 
Thomas  Hall,    . 
George  W.  Kitine,  D 
T.  McLaughlin, 
James  A.  Clark, 
A.  E.  Todd,      . 
William  A.  Fobes, 
Augustus  A.  Alvord 
Herbert  K.  Job, 
Walter  R.  Curtis, 
Irving  A.  Burnap, 
Arthur  J.  Watson, 
John  Dooly, 


1811  —  1832 
1833— 1837 
1837— 1843 
1844— 1854 
1854— 1 86 1 

1862 

1862 

1863 

1864— 1869 
1870 — 1871 
1871  — 1872 
1873— 1874 
1875— 1877 
1877— 1880 
1881  — 1888 
1888— 1890 

1891 

1 89 1 

1892 — 1897 
1897 — 189S 
1898 


The  followins:  is  a  list  of  those  who  have  served  as  deacons: 


Daniel  McCollum, 
Thomas  Hale, 
Jonathan  Townsend, 
Marshall  S.  Bidwell, 
Charles  Phelps, 
John  C.  Hyde, 
Jabez  Ward, 
Albert  M.  Dowd. 
Martin  V.  Thomson. 


John  Jackson, 
Thomas  Orton, 
William  Hale, 
David  Talcot, 
Nathan  Abbot, 
Joseph  Chapin, 
Justus  Battle, 
Lystra  Taylor, 
Amos  Langdon, 
John  Bentley, 

CONFESSION  OF  FAITH  AND  COVENANT-I825. 
Copy  of  Confession  of  Faith  and   Church   Covenant,  with  a 
list  of  the  membership,  printed  for  the  church  in  1825. 

You  believe  that   there  is  one  God  ;    that   he   exists,  mysteriously,  in 
three  persons,  of   equal    divine   perfections,  the   Father,  the  Sou,  and  the 


27 

Holy  Ghost  ;  that  he  is  self-existeut,  eternal,  unchangeable  in  his  being 
.and  perfections,  the  Creator,  Preserver  and  Governor,  of  all  creatures  and 
things  ;  that  he  worketh  all  things  accordmg  to  the  counsel  of  his  own  will ; 
and  that  he  has  given  to  man  the  Scriptures  of  the  old  and  new  testament, 
as  a  perfect  unerring  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 

You  believe  that  God  created  our  first  parents  in  his  o'.vn  moral  image, 
perfectly  holy  and  happy  ;  that  he  entered  into  a  covenant  of  life  with 
them,  promising  immortal  life  on  condition  of  perfect  obedience,  and 
threatening  eternal  death  in  case  of  disobedience  ;  that  they  fell  from 
their  original  state  of  moral  rectitude  by  eating  the  forbidden  fruit  of  the 
garden;  and  that  all  their  natural  descendants,  in  consequence  of  this 
act,  come  into  the  world  destitute  of  holiness,  and  in  such  a  state,  that  they 
become  sinful  and  exposed  to  the  eternal  wrath  of  God. 

You  believe,  that  God  has  not  left  all  mankind  to  perish,  but  having 
from  all  eternity  elected  some  to  everlasting  life,  has  opened  a  way  to 
bring  them  into  a  state  of  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ  ;  that  the  Sou  of 
God,  having  become  man  and  obeyed  and  suffered  as  such,  has  honored 
the  divine  law,  exhibited  an  adequate  atonement  for  sin,  arisen  from  the 
dead,  and  ascended  into  heaven, where,  amid  all  the  splendors  of  his  ex- 
altation, he  intercedes  for  the  children  of  God. 

You  believe,  that  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  his  renewing  and  sanctifying  in- 
fluences, executes  the  purposes  of  Christ's  redemption  ;  that  all  who  truly 
believe  in  him,  are  the  subjects  of  these  influences,  are  pardoned  and  re- 
stored to  the  divine  favor  ;  and  will,  assuredly,  continue  in  holiness  unto 
the  end,  being  kept  by  the  power  of  God  through  faith  and  salvation. 

You  believe,  that  Jesus  Christ  has  instituted  a  church  in  the  world; 
that  he  has,  also,  appointed  baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper,  to  be  received 
by  all  who  cordially  believe  in  Christ  and  publicly  profess  their  faith  in 
jtiim;  and  that  all  such,  and  their  infant  children,  are  the  scriptural  sub- 
jects of  baptism. 

You  believe,  that  there  will  be  a  general  judgment,  at  which  period 
Jesus  Christ  will  raise  the  dead,  judge  the  world,  receive  the  righteous  to 
eternal  life,  and  doom  the  wicked  to  everlasting  punishment. 

Thus  in  the  presence  of  God,  you  solemnly  profess  and  believe. 

THE    COVENANT. 

You  do  now,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  this  congregation,  so  far  as 
you  know  your  own  heart,  renounce  all  the  ways  of  sin  ;  solemnly  and 
publicly  dedicate  yourselves  to  God  ;  and  rely  upon  his  Word  as  your 
only  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  upon  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  your  teacher 
and  Redeemer,  and  upon  the  eternal  Spirit  as  your  vSanctifier. 

You  promise,  that  by  the  aid  of  the  Spirit  of  grace,  you  will  walk 
with  this  church  in  christian  fellowship,  and  in  a  constant  and  faithful 
attendance  upon  all  the  institutions  of  the  gospel ;  that  you  will  maintain 
family  prayer;  that  you  will  exercise  christian  love  and  care  and  watch- 
fulness towards  the  members  of  this  church  ;  that  you  will  assist,  accord- 


28 

ing  to  your  capacity,  opportuuity  and  statioj,  in  exercising  the  holy  dis- 
cipline which  Christ  has  enjoined  ;  and  that  you  will  submit  to  the  govern, 
ment  of  the  church,  so  long  as  you  shall  belong  to  it. 

Thus  in  the  presence  of  God,  you  solemnly  covenant  and  promise. 

We  then,  the  church  of  Christ,  receive  you  into  full  communion,  and 
promise,  that  in  the  strength  of  divine  grace,  we  will  walk  toward  you  in 
all  christian  affection  and  watchfulness. 

OFFICERS   OF   THE   CHURCH. 

*Rev.  Adonijah  Bidwell,  was  ordained  October  3d,  1750. 
*Rev.  Joseph  Avery,  was  installed  February  25th.  1789. 
*Rev.  J.  Warren  Dow,  was  ordained  July  loth,  1811. 

DEACONS. 

Deacon  *John  Jackson,  chosen  A.  D.  1753. 
*Thomas  Orton,  -  -  1753. 
*  William  Hale,  -  -  1764. 
*David  Talcott, 

Nathan  Abbott,  removed  from  the  town. 

Justus  Battle,  removed  from  town,  1802. 

Joseph  Chapin,        -        -        1804. 

Lester  Taylor,  removed  from  the  town,  1810. 

Amos  Langdon,        -        -        1817. 

John  Bentley,  -        -        1824. 

catalogue. 

In  the  first  part  of  the  following  Catalogue,  are  the  names  of  those 
existing  members  of  the  church,  who  had  been  admitted  previous  to  the 
ordination  of  Rev.  J.  Warren  Dow. 

Azariah  Orton,  Mrs.  Rachael  Gleason, 

Mrs   Abigail  Orton.  William  Hale, 

Joseph  Chapin,  Silas  Reuwee, 

Mrs.  Thankful  Chapin.  Mrs.  Mary  Reuwee, 

Josiah  Hale,  Lucy  Warren, 

Mrs.  Abigail  Hale,  Dr.  Elnathan  Pratt, 

Salathiel  Hale,  Mrs.  Sally  Stedman, 

Mrs.  Sally  Hale,  Mary  Northrup, 

Abigail  Hale,  Widow  Anna  Hale, 

Amos  Langdon,  Mrs.  Rhoda  Upham, 

Mrs.  Abigail  Langdon.  Asa  Markham,  Jr., 

Jesse  Langdon,  Ithiel  Battle, 

Josiah  Brewer,  Kezia  Battle, 

Mrs.  Loraine  Brewer,  Mrs.  Vashti  Carpenter, 

Ebenezer  Chadwick,  Amy  Baldwin, 

Charles  Bentley,  Widow  Mercy  Hobbs, 

Mrs.  Hannah  Bentley,  Mrs.  Miriam  Richards, 


29 


Sally  Beutley, 
Isaac  Brewer, 
Mrs.  Esther  Brewer, 
Polly  Brewer, 
Polly  Harmon, 
Asa  Fowler, 
Mrs.  Lavina  Fowler, 
Stephen  Brookeiis, 
Mrs.  Anna  Brookins, 
Sanford  Gleason, 


Chloe  Hobbs, 

Widow  Marcy  Reuwee, 

Orpha  Towusend, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Walker, 

Pure  Hall 
Widow  Lucy  Curtis, 
Mercy  Curtis, 
Mrs.  Electa  Brewer, 

Huldah  Garfield, 
Widow  Lois  Allen, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Reeder. 


In  the  remaining  part  of  the  Catalogue,  are  those  members,  who 
were  admitted  into  the  Church  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  J.  Warren 
DoTV,  from  July  loth,  1811,  to  January  ist,  1825. 

A^.  B.  Those  persetis  are  dead,  against  -whose  name  this  mark  (*) 
is  placed.  Those  to  whose  names  this  mark  (j)  is  prefixed,  have  been  dis- 
missed and  recommended.  Those  whose  names  are  printed  in  Italics  have 
been  admitted  by  letter  from  other  Churches. 


July  12,  1812. 
Elizabeth,    wife  of  Jonathan   Town- 
send. 
*  Sarah,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Dow. 

January  3.  1823. 
JAniy,  wife  of  Daniel  Philips- 

May  I,  1824. 
XMrs.  Hannah  Plumb. 
XVienna,  wife  of  Simon  Stearns, 
Emely.  wife  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Dow. 
Salome,  wife  of  Eber  Slater. 

November  6th. 
Widow  Deborah  McCullum. 
::}:Janies  Langdon. 

September  10,  1815. 
Anna  Markham. 

February  8,  1816. 
.Stephen  Taylor. 
*John  Brewer. 

March  3d. 
JLawton,  Marcy, 

JJelpe  R.,  wife  of  Lawton  Marcy. 
jShubal  Manly, 
Jsaac  Walker 


Amasa  Curtis, 

Humphrey  Hoblxs, 

^Elijah  Dealand, 

jSally,  wife  of  E.  Dealand. 

John  Bentley, 

JMary  Bradley, 

Mary,  wife  of  A.  Markham,  Jr., 

Daniel  Brewer, 

Harvey  Brewer, 

*Reuben  Jones, 

Roswell  Bentley. 

William  Bentley, 

Paul  T.  Chapin, 

Olive,  wife  of  S.  BuUard. 

Jerusha.  wife  of  Joseph  Manley, 

Lovice,  wife  of  Stephen  Powel, 

Tostine  Hancock, 

Mary  Brewer. 

Candace  Townsend, 

Ebenezer  Reuwee, 

Charles  Townsend, 

May  5th. 
*  Cynthia,  wife  of  Isaac  Brewer, 
Betsey,  wife  of  Abijah  Heath, 
Mary  wife  of  John  Bentley, 


30 


Eunice,  wife  of  Thaddeus  Grauger, 
+Theodore  S.  Ingersoll, 
+Sally  Stebbins. 

September  ist. 
Mrs.  Lois  Eckley, 
Anna,  wife  of  Dr.  Elnathau  Pratt. 

May  II,  1817. 
Thomas  Stedman. 

November  2d. 
*Hannah  Jackson, 
Betsey,  wife  of  Barnabas  Bidwell. 
Polly  Warren, 

^Harriet,  wife  of  Erastus  Holt, 
IVtdozv  Theodosia  Brewer. 
September  6,  1818. 
Phebe  Langdou, 
Orton  Brewer, 
Sarah,  wife  of  J.  Brewer, 

November  ist. 
:J;Joseph  Butrick, 
^Elizabeth  M.,  wife  of  J.  Butrick. 
Widow  Hannah  Ward, 
Betsey  Ward, 
Enos  Northrup, 
Sophia   wife  of  E.  Northrup, 
JBathsheba,wife  of  Justus  Battle,  Jr. 
tSarah,  wife  of  Ithiel  Battle,  Jr., 
Celira,  wife  of  H.  Clark, 
Lucinda,  wife  of  Ira  Brewer, 
JElisha  C.  Watkins. 

March  i,   181 9. 
:{: Widow  Sarah  Wilcox, 
JNancy,  wife  of  Frederick  Hamlin. 

July   4th 
Harriet,  wife  of  C.  Curtis. 

September  5th. 
Luna  5.,  wife  of  John  D.   Bidwell, 
Polly  Couch, 
tMary  Ann  Butrick. 

November  7th. 
Deborah,  wife  of  Sam  Eggleston, 
John  L.  Woodruff, 
Wife  of  John  L.  Woodruff. 


January  21,  1821. 
Amber,  a  zvotnan  of  color. 

July  1st. 
Widow  Thankful  Wheelock. 

September  2d. 
EJizabeth,  wife  of  C.  Townseud. 

January  6,   1822. 
Horace  Peck, 
Abigail,  wife  of  H.  Peck, 
Heulah.  wife  of  P.  Chapin, 
Samuel  Eggleston, 
t  Artimesia,  wife  of  Jesse  R.  Langdon. 

March  3d. 
Mary,  wife  of  Lemuel  Townsend, 
Mary,  wife  of  D.  Canfield, 
Clarissa,  wife  of  Luther  Wheelock. 

.September  ist. 
Asa  Bigelow. 
Thaddeus  Granger, 
Candace,  wife  of  Aaron  Tyrrel. 
Widow  Sylvia  Brewer, 
Joel  Deeland, 
Arnold  Stedman, 
An?on  Bigelow, 
Harriet,  wife  of  A.  Bigelow. 
Jason  Langdon, 

Rhoda  M.  wife  of  Jason  Langdon, 
^Freeman  Hancock, 
:;: Alice  L.,  wife  of  Freeman  Hancock. 
Sarah,  wife  of  Anson  Langdon, 
Charlotte,  wife  of  Isaac  Brewer 
Julia  Anna,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Reuwee. 
Mary  Ann,  wife  of  C.  Langdon. 
Sarah,  wife  of  George  Heath. 
Laura,  wife  of  L.  Hyde. 
Fanny  Granger, 
Clarinda  Hale, 
Amanda  Brewer, 
Alvinzy  Wright, 
Chauncey  Langdon, 
Daniel  McCollum, 
Frederick  Fairbank, 
Cyrus  Townsend, 
Grove  Tyrrel, 


31 


Samuel  Egglestou,  juu. 
Miron  Eggleston, 
Maliuda  Hobbs, 
Sarah  Eggleston, 
Ester  L.  Brewer, 
Emeline  Brewer, 
Sat-ah  Townseud, 
Lois  Anna  Couch, 

November  3d. 
Miriam,  wife  of  Samuel  Tibballs. 
Phebe,  wife  of  Dr.  Asa  G.  Welch. 


William  Porter, 
John  D.  Bidwill, 
Bidwell  Brewer, 
Almon  Brewer, 
Milton  Brookins, 

January  5,  1823. 
Samuel  Tibballs,  juu. 
Amelia,  wife  of  Samuel  Tibballs. jun. 

September  5th. 
Pleiades,  wife  of  Wm.  Bently. 
Electa,  wife  of  Joel  Dealand. 


SUMMARY: 

The  lirst  Church  in  Tyriiigham,  was   organized  and  established  Sept- 
ber  25,  1750. 

It  then  consisted  of  members 8 

Admitted  during  Rev.  .■^donijah  Bidwell's  ministry  from  Oct.   1750  to 

June  1784,  thirty-four  years 90 

Admitted  diiring  Rev.  Joseph  .Ivery's  ministrv  from  Feb.  1789  to  1807, 

eighteen  years.      62 

Admitted  during  the  vacancy,  after  Mr.  Avery's  dismission,  four  years,     96 
Admitted   by  the   present   pastor   from    July    181 1,    to  Jan.    i,    1825, 

thirteen  and  a  half  years 131 

Total 387 

Total  number  of  members  belonging  to  the  church  January  i ,  1825  ....    158 


Total  number  of  deaths  and  removals  since  Sept.  25.  1750, 


229 


THE  CHURCH  BUILDINGS. 


A  little  south  of  where  B.  S.  Carrington  now  lives  the  first 
church  structure  in  the  township  of  Tyringham,  35x40  feet  was 
begun  in  1743,  but  as  referred  to  in  the  history  of  the  town  was 
not  finished  for  several  years  but  was  after  being  completed  used 
for  thirty-five  years.  The  proprietors  of  the  township  held  their 
meetings  in  this  church  after  its  completion  and  it  was  the  place 
of  worship  during  the  entire  pastorate  of  Rev.  Adonijah  Bidwell. 

In  1796  a  second  church  building  was  begun  about  half  a 
mile  to  the  south  of  where  the  old  church  stood.  Still  it  was  on 
the  same  lot.  This  church  was  dedicated  July  4,  179S.  It  was 
beautifully  situated  on  an  eminence  overlooking  the  park  of 
houses  then  at  the  Center,  the  view  from  it  was  very  com- 
manding and  it  could  be  seen  by  most  of  the  families  then 
living  south  of  it.  It  was  large  and  more  commodious  than  the 
former  building.  In  appearance  it  resembled,  the  church  at 
New  Marlboro  before  that  church  had  its  spire  lowered  to  its 
present  style.  There  were  galleries  on  each  side  connecting  with 
the  choir  loft  in  the  end  opposite  the  pulpit.  The  seating  at  first 
was  after  the  old  style,  as  one  expressed  it,  "they  were  shut  in" 
when  seated.     Pews  were  afterwards  substituted. 

It  was  no  doubt  the  building  of  this  church  which  was  the 
cause  of  the  trouble  between  Mr.  Avery  and  the  town,  for  it  was 
erected  during  his  pastorate  and  the  people  in  the  north  part  of 
the  town  were  opposed  to  the  location.  In  fact  the  History  of 
Berkshire  states  this  was  the  beginning  of  the  variance  which 
eventually  terminated  in  the  division  of  the  township  into  two 
separate  corporations.  The  people  in  the  north  part,  then  known 
as  Hop  Brook,  became  so  disaffected  that  the  following  year  they 
began  the  erection  of  a  meeting  house,  framing  and  covering  it, 
but  it  was  not  completed  until  1825.  This  stood  near  what  is 
now  known  as  the  old  cemetery  in  Tyringham  village,  and  it  was 


33 

here  that  the  May  training  of  the  militia  was  annually  held.  All 
able  bodied  men  between  twenty-one  and  forty-five  years  of  age 
were  required  to  attend  with  gun,  powder  horn,  priming  wire, 
brush  and  flint.  These  occasions  were  times  of  great  jollity. 
On  one  of  them,  during  the  firing  of  an  old  cannon,  just 
outside  the  church,  it  burst,  killing  Silas  Ward  and  injuring 
others.  The  present  oldest  inhabitant  of  Monterey,  Henry  A. 
Stedman.  was  standing  beside  Mr.  Ward  when  he  was  killed. 
During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  Warren  Dow  he  preached  in  this 
church  each  alternate  vSabbath,  the  Baptists  at  that  time  occupy- 
ing it  wdtli  the  Congregationalists. 

Thus  the  supporting  strength  of  the  membership  was  some- 
what lessened,  but  their  earnest  zeal  resulted  in  great  blessing, 
for  the  church  was  the  scene  of  many  precious  seasons  of  gracious 
revivals,  notably  the  one  referred  to  after  the  dismissal  of  Rev. 
Joseph  Aver5^  and  during  the  pastorate  of  J.  Warren  Dow,  and 
also  a  revival  in  the  last  year  of  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Alvah 
C.  Page  when  forty-three  persons  were  added  to  the  church.  But 
again  the  question  of  location  came  to  the  front.  As  early  as  1836 
Rev.  IvUcius  Fields  stated  as  his  reason  for  asking  a  dissolution 
of  his  pastoral  relations,  "the  unfavorable  location  of  the  meeting 
house  and  the  unhappy  feelings  in  the  church  and  the  society 
therefrom."  The  situation  was  very  exposed  and  as  the  farms 
had  become  settled  and  much  of  the  original  forests  had  been  cut 
away,  the  wind  had  a  fair  sweep  in  its  course  at  the  meeting 
house.  One  who  worshipped  in  it  says:  "The  wind  came  straight 
down  from  Canada  and  struck  it."  It  became  necessary  eventu- 
ally to  so  change  the  interior  that  the  space  above  should  be 
lessened  and  it  was  ceiled  so  as  to  leave  out  the  galleries  and  thus 
secure  greater  comfort  in  the  winter.  But  the  feeling  of  many 
was  that  the  location  should  be  changed  with  a  view  to  the  con- 
venience and  comfort  of  the  people  in  South  I'yringham.  There 
had  been  some  changes  in  the  course  of  public  travel  and  a 
stirring  little  village  had  sprung  up  in  the  valley  which  was 
generally  known  as  Bangall,  where  most  of  the  industries  of  the 
section  were  then  conducted.  Long  before  it  was  really  proposed 
to  move  the  church  from  tli:-  Old  Center  Josiah  Brewer,  recogniz- 


34 

ing  the  need  of  a  more  suitable  location,  offered  to  donate  two 
acres  of  land  as  also  land  adjoining  for  a  cemetery  if  they  would 
move  the  church  to  the  village  in  the  valley.  The  site  he  pro- 
posed was  where  Elmer  Kinney  is  now  building  his  dwelling. 
He  also  proposed  to  assist  liberally  in  the  expense  of  constructing 
the  horse-sheds.  But  the  people  loved  the  old  church,  so  hal- 
lowed by  sacred  reasons  of  grace.     One  writes  thus: 

"It  is  very  pleasant  for  nie  now  to  look  back  and  rejoice  that 
I  worshipped  God  in  that  venerated  place  and  to  have  known 
those  able  ministers  and  those  devout  parishioners  who  wor- 
shipped there.  It  was  what  I  call  a  sacred  place  and  I  re- 
gretted very  much  when  it  was  to  be  taken  down.  The  Holy 
Bible  remained  in  the  pulpit  when  I  was  there  and  was  a  pre- 
cious curiosity.  The  spirit  of  the  worshippers  in  the  church 
was  fervid  wnth  kindly  zeal.  The  old  church  was  in  a  bleak 
place,  but  was  a  remarkable  landmark .  Holy  and  precious  associa- 
tions are  indeed  connected  with  it  as  a  house  truly  dedicated  to 
God." 

Another  writes  thus  about  the  Bible  referred  to  in  the  pre- 
vious letter  : 

"Among  those  who  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  prosperity  of 
the  church,  was  the  late  Nathan  Jackson  of  New  York  City,  who 
was  a  native  of  the  town  and  a  son  of  Col.  Giles  Jackson  and 
grandson  of  Deacon  John  Jackson  who  was  elected  first  deacon  of 
the  church  September  25,  1753,  and  died  March  13,  1757,  aged 
53  years.  Mr.  Nathan  Jackson  was  the  donor  of  a  Bible  that 
was  to  be  used  in  the  second  church  building  so  long  as  that 
church  remained  in  use.  In  the  repairs  of  that  church  he  gave 
the  pulpit  and  pulpit  chair,  also  the  frescoing  back  of  the  pulpit 
and  an  organ  for  the  choir.  His  generosity  extended  to  the 
burying  ground,  around  which  he  built  and  kept  in  repair  a  fence 
as  long  as  he  lived.'' 

The  regularity  of  the  people  in  those  days  is  referred  to  in 
the  following  reminiscences  : 

Even  the  horses  understood  the  meaning  of  the  bell.  One 
man  who  lived  nearly  a  mile  from  the  uptown  church,  at  one 
time  owned  a  fine,  large,  intelligent  family  horse  that  was  driven 


35 

to  church  at  least  fifty-two  times  in  a  year,  though  I  think  oc- 
casionally he  went  of  his  own  accord.  The  rule  was  to  harness 
him  to  the  capacious  carriage  early  on  Sunday  morning  and  lead 
him  to  the  front  of  the  house,  w^here  he  would  wait  for  the  family 
to  complete  their  preparations  for  going  to  church,  but  some- 
times they  were  tardy  and  the  church  bell  would  begin  to  ring, 
then  he  would  prick  up  his  ears  and  start  off  on  a  brisk  walk  ;  he 
would  proceed  to  the  large  stone  horse-block  at  the  front  of  the 
church  and  would  halt  a  few  moments  there,  then  go  into  the 
shed  at  the  rear  of  the  church  where  he  was  accustomed  to  stand 
during  the  hour  of  service. 

Another  man,  an  old  deacon,  who  attended  church  services 
as  regularly  as  the  minister,  had  a  pair  of  young  horses  who  oc- 
casionally managed  to  slip  away  from  him  while  being  harnessed 
and  enjoy  a  good  run.  One  day,  when  preparing  to  attend  the 
church  prayer-meeting,  then  held  Friday  afternoon  at  2  o'clock, 
they  got  away  and  careered  around  the  fields,  eluding  every  effort 
of  their  master  to  catch  them  till  the  bell  rang.  At  the  first  stroke 
they  stopped  and  submitted  themselves  to  be  led  back  to  the 
wagon-house,  looking  quite  ashamed  of  themselves  and  doubtless 
realizing  that  they  would  have  a  chance  to  travel  at  their  best 
speed  up  and  down  the  hills  to  the  village  to  make  up  for  the 
lost  time. 

Their  feeling  and  sentiment  in  regard  to  one  of  the  que.stions 
of  national  importance  are  thus  expressed  : 

RESOLUTIONS  REGARDING  SLAVERY. 

Whereas  God  has  said,  "  Thou  shalt  in  anywise  rebuke  thy  neighbor 
and  not  suffer  sin  upon  him,"  —  whereas  slavery  in  itself,  a  sin  of  the 
deepest  die,  and  the  cause  of  sin  in  numberless  forms  of  the  most  flagrant 
enormity,  among  which  may  be  reckoned  the  sundering  of  all  social  ties, 
adultery,  murder,  and  the  intentional  with-holding  of  Gospel  Light  and 
of  the  knowledge  of  the  blood-bought  atonement;  —  and  whereas  the 
opinion  is  very  generally  disseminatedithroughout  the  slave-holding  states 
that  the  doctrine  of  emancipation  is  held  only  by  a  few  fanatics,  and  that 
by  far  the  greater  and  more  sober  portion  of  the  northern  people,  includ- 
ing ihe  Christian  Church,  are  disposed  to  view  their  "peculiar  domestic 
situation,"  with  tolerance  ;  —  we  deem  it  our  duty  to  take  such  action  on 
this  subject  as  shall  show  to  our  southern  brethren  and  to  the  world  that 
we  regard  this  with  utter  abhorence.     It  is  therefore 


36 

1.  Resolved,  That  we  hold  slavery  to  be  such  a  continued,  systemized 
and  flagrant  violation  of  Christ's  Golden  Rule,  that  the  participator  in  it 
who  has  been  sufficiently  enlightened  on  the  subject,  cannot  l)e  a  consistent 
christian. 

2.  Resolved  therefore.  That  we  cannot  receive  anyone  who  holds  or 
deals  in  human  beings  as  property  to  our  pulpit  or  communion. 

3.  Resolved,  That  to  countenance  or  apologize  for  slavery  is  to  share 
in  its  guilt. 

4.  Resolved,  That  we  will  use  our  influence  in  every  lawful  and 
christian  way  to  remove  this  Heaven-daring  sin  from  the  American  church 
and  nation. 


The  action  of  the  Church  in  the  following  is  indicative  of  a 
deep  state  of  spirituality  : 

CONFESSION  AND  COVENANT.— 1847 

Copy  of  confession  and  covenant  of  the  chtirch  made  before 
communion  on  the  first  Sunday  in  January,  1847. 

Assembled  once  more  through  the  kind  providence  of  God  to  com- 
mero.orate  the  dying  love  of  our  crucified  Redeemer;  the  withdrawment  of 
the  Divine  influences  which  we  have  experienced,  for  months  and  years 
past,  has  compelled  us  to  a  most  solemn  retrospect  and  self-examination. 
As  the  result  of  this,  we  have  been  led  to  a  deep  sense  of  our  own  unfaith- 
fulness, both  as  individuals  and  as  a  church. 

We  would  now  in  the  presence  of  God,  of  angels  and  of  men,  ack- 
nowledge that  we  have  failed  in  the  performance  of  those  duties  which  we 
owe  to  our  own  souls,  to  one  another,  to  the  community  around  us,  and  to 
our  God. 

To  our  own  souls;  inasmuch  as  we  have  neglected  to  live  in  accordance 
with  those  high  privileges  which  God  has  vouchsafed  to  us. 

To  one  another  in  that  we  have  too  often  failed  to  remind  each  other 
in  kindness  and  christian  courtesy  of  those  faults  which  we  have  wit- 
nessed, and  although  we  have  the  happiness  to  believe  that  we  are  and 
have  been  harmonious^  in  regard  to  all  the  more  essential  points  of 
doctrine  and  duty;  yet  we  deeply  regret  that  diff"erences  of  opinion  on  any 
minor  points  have  ever  led  us  to  speak  to  and  of  each  other  in  terms 
other  than  such  as  are  befitting  those  who  are  mutually  bound  by  the 
strongest  of  fraternal  ties.  Thus  in  the  exercise  of  forgiveness  for  the 
past,  we  would  now  and  from  this  time  onward  extend  to  each  other  the 
right  hand  of  fellowship  in  token  of  our  mutual  affection  and  christian 
confidence. 

To  you,  who  are  without,  whose  hearts  yet  remain  unreconciled  to 
God,  and  have  not  yet  experienced  His  pardoning  love,  we  would  here  ask 


37 

your  lorgiveness  in  what  we  have  failed  by  our  example  as  well  as  con- 
versation, to  recommend  to  you  that  religion  which  we  profess.  Not 
because  we  have  not  felt  that  the  religion  of  Christ  was  all  important  to  you 
as  well  as  to  ourselves,  but  because  we  have  not  acted  up  to  our  own  con- 
victions of  its  importance. 

With  reverence  we  would  acknowledge  this;  in  all  this  we  have  robbed 
God  of  that  which  was  His  due,  and  which  our  own  covenant  obligations 
should  have  led  us  to  perform. 

We  would  now  hereby  solemnly  renew  our  covenant  engagements  to 
be  the  Lord's,  to  walk  with  each  other  in  the  fellowship  of  the  gospel,  and 
looking  to  God  for  the  aid  of  His  spirit,  we  will  endeavor  henceforth  to 
live  more  to  His  glory,  and  for  your  good  and  that  of  all  ocr  fellowmen. 


But  the  question  of  a  change  of  site  eventually  came  to  an 
issue.  Shall  we  move  the  church  to  the  village  ?  In  true  congre- 
gational style  they  settled  it,  by  a  vote,  in  the  affirmative  and  the 
society  in  charge  of  the  fund  coincided  in  the  decision,  and  steps 
were  taken  with  that  purpose  in  view.  To  meet  the  question  of 
the  expense  of  a  new  building  a  meeting  was  held  to  consider 
the  question,  to  which  not  only  the  membership  but  all  the  towns- 
people were  invited.  The  result  was  the  organization  of  a  new 
society  of  which  we  give  the  following  history  : 

THE  SOUTH  TYRINGHAM  MEETING-HOUSE  SOCIETY. 

This  Society  was  formed  on  March  lo.  1846,  Jason  Lang- 
don,  President;  John  Branning,  Clerk;  W.  C.  Langdon,  Treas- 
urer. The  object  of  the  society  was  to  build  and  maintain  a 
house  of  worship  in  South  Tyringham  to  be  used  and  occupied 
by  the  Congregational  Society  in  South  Tyringham.  Jason 
Langdon,  Samuel  Townsend  and  Elias  Wright  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  solicit  subscriptions. 

THE  SUBSCRIPTION  ARTICLE. 

We  the  subscribers,  agree  to  pay  the  sums  set  against  our  respective 
names  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  foregoing  Society  for  the  purpose  of  build- 
ing said  house.  One-third  to  be  paid  on  the  first  day  of  July,  next  ;  one- 
third  on  the  first  of  vSeptember,  next ;  the  remainder  after  such  time  as 
the  Building  Committee  shall  direct. 

R.  L.  McDowell,  $25     L.  J.  Townsend,  $50 

Dennis  Brewer,  50     W.  C.  Langdon,  100 


3« 


Lucius  Gibbs, 

|ioo 

Samuel  Townsend, 

$110 

Newton  Brewer, 

25 

John  Langdon, 

75 

Daniel  Brewer, 

40 

Wm.  Fairchild, 

25 

Penuel  Hobbs, 

25 

F.  D.  Ingersoll, 

25 

Sylvester  C.  Fowler, 

25 

Levi  Gibbs, 

50 

C.  Hitchcock, 

10 

Rufus  C.  Fargo, 

25 

Alvan  H.Turner, 

25 

John  Bentley, 

25 

Jared  Mansir, 

25 

John  Branniug. 

10 

J.  M.  Rewey, 

10 

E.  A.  Langdon, 

10 

Chas.  Townsend  and  U.  Brett,         25 

Elias  Wright, 

50 

Jason  lyaugdou, 

100 

Anson  Langdon, 

50 

John  G.  Mansir, 

50 

Jonathan  Townsend, 

25 

Paul  T.  Chapin. 

100 

E.  B.  Garfield, 

65 

A  building  committee  of  three  were  chosen  as  follows  :  John 
Langdon,  John  G.  Mansir,  Samuel  Townsend. 

On  December  14,  1846,  Jason  Langdon  and  Wilber  C. 
Langdon  were  added  to  the  committee. 

On  November  19,  1847,  this  committee  reported  that  $1,200 
more  would  be  needed  to  complete  the  building.  To  meet  this 
need  the  following  subscriptions  were  taken  : 


George  Upham, 

^5 

Anson  and  H.  Langdon, 

$50 

Samuel  Townsend, 

40 

Townsend  and  Brett, 

50 

Paul  T.  Chapin, 

40 

Lewis  Tyrrel, 

ro 

Dennis  Brewer, 

25 

Henry  Mansir, 

25 

Wm.  Fairchild. 

25 

Jason  Langdon, 

50 

W.  C.  Langdon, 

75 

L.  J.  Townsend, 

50 

John  G.  Mansir, 

25 

A.  W.  Bigelow, 

10 

Moses  Fargo, 

25 

John  Wheeler, 

25 

Isaac  HarmoL', 

60 

H.  A.  Stedman, 

10 

James  M.  Fargo, 

25 

R. N.  Couch, 

10 

John  D.  Bidwell, 

25 

Samuel  M.  Shepherd, 

10 

Jared  Mansir. 

25 

Thos.  D.  Hale, 

25 

Isaac  Harmon  Jr., 

10 

Elias  Wright, 

25 

Barnabas  Bidwell, 

25 

Merick  D.  Mansir, 

10 

John  B.  Morse, 

10 

John  Benedict, 

5 

John  Langdon, 

50 

A.  H.Turner, 

10 

E.  B.  Garfield, 

20 

David  A.  Garfield, 

35 

William  Mansir, 

10 

Artemus  Dowd, 

10 

G.  B.  and  J.  H.  Langdon, 

75 

Charles  Fargo, 

10 

Ebenezer  Reuwee, 

lO 

Under  the  agreement  in  soliciting  subscriptions  the  first  ten- 
dollar  subscription  by   any  person  was  entitled    to  one   share; 


39 

twenty-five  dollars  to  two  shares;  fifty  dollars  to  three  shares. 
Shares  to  be  increased  on  the  last  ratio.  Each  share  was  en- 
titled to  a  vote.  Henry  Mansir  agreed  to  give  the  land  and  to 
accept  for  the  same  the  number  of  shares  the  proprietors  should 
allow  at  the  first  meeting.  A  special  committee  appointed  at  a 
meeting  held  April  7,  1846,  appraised  the  land  at  seventy-five 
dollars  and  the  Society  voted  that  Henry  Mansir  should  be  en- 
titled to  four  shares.  All  voting  in  this  society  was  to  be  done 
by  shares.  At  the  annual  meeting  held  January  7,  1850,  the 
building  committee  made  their  final  report  as  follows  : 

Total  amount  received,  I2.797.34 

Expended  as  follows  : 

Contract  with  Theron  R.  Wolcott  excavating^ 

and  laying  basement  walls,  $306.00 

Paying  for  timber  and  drawing  building   ina- 

terials,  228.54 

Contract  with  E.  G.  Perry,  framing  and  en- 
closing the  building  and  finishing  bfl<4e- 
ment  room,  1,400.00 

Paying  for   stoves   and   pipe,  and   recording 

deed  of  land,  19.80 

E.   G.    Perry,    for   finishing   the    house   '<nd 

painting  the  same,  833.00 

Total.  12,787.34 

At  this  time  each  pew  in  the  church  was  appraised  and  bid- 
ding for  the  pews  was  to  begin  at  a  bid  for  each  pew  equal  to  the 
appraised  valuation.  The  rent  of  pews  in  1850  amounted  to 
$199.50  ;  in  1866,  the  rental  of  pews  was  $646^   in   1870.  $730. 

This  society  assumed  by  general  consent  the  work  and 
responsibility  which  the  Parish  society  had  been  previously  doing. 

On  January  5,  1 891,  it  was  voted  that  the  seats  be  free  and 
the  money  for  the  support  of  preaching  be  raised  by  weekly 
pledges  to  be  obtained  by  the  secretary.  This  society  is  not  in- 
corporated. Their  shares  are  transferable  to  their  heirs  or 
whomsoever  they  may  elect.  The  Fund  Society  transfer  their 
income  annually  to  this  society  for  the  support  of  the  services  of 
the  church.  The  new  church  was  formerly  accepted  by  the 
Church  Society  as  its  future  place  of  worship,  and  was  dedicated 
the  first  Sabbath  in  1849. 


40 

But  this  action  was  not  entirely  satisfactory.  The  people 
living  near  the  Old  Center  objected  very  earnestly  to  the  change 
and  began  a  suit  of  equity  ' '  to  compel  the  officers  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church  and  Society  to  appropriate  the  income 
of  the  Fund  established  in  1809  to  the  support  of  preaching  in 
the  old  house. "  The  superior  court  decided  that  as  the  majority 
of  the  church  and  the  society  had  voted  to  change  their  place  of 
worship  in  favor  of  the  new  church,  the  fund  had  been  properly 
appropriated  for  the  support  of  worship  there.  Rev.  Samuel 
Howe  was  then  pastor  of  the  church  and  remained  with  them  as 
pastor  in  the  new  church  till  1854.  He  is  spoken  of  as  "a  good 
minister,  a  skillful  manager  and  an  admirable  adviser.'' 

Many  of  the  people,  however,  clung  to  the  old  church, 
repaired  it,  met  there  regularly  and  supported  preaching. 
Doubtless  it  was  the  feeling  created  by  this  change  which  led 
one  of  the  older  members  in  1849  to  thus  request  his  dismission: 
"  To  the  First  Congregational  Church,  dear  and  ever  beloved 
brethren:  Last  Sabbath  completed  exactly  forty  5'ears  that  I  have 
endeavored  to  be  a  peaceable  member  in  this  church  and  I  have 
had  no  piece  from  the  crown  of  my  head  to  the  souh  of  my  feet. 
Therefore  this  is  to  demand  an  immediate  discharge  from  your 
division  of  the  church."  E.  N.  Saunders  of  Lee,  Mass.,  speaks 
in  a  different  spirit  thus:  "The  first  year  in  Monterey,  1857, 
I  attended  the  Congregational  church  under  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Phelps.  The  second  year  I  heard  that  the  Methodists  at 
Mill  River  were  not  going  to  sustain  any  preaching  that  year, 
and  around  this  old  Congregational  Church  was  quite  a  number 
of  Methodists  formed  into  a  class  but  belonging  to  the  church  in 
Hartsville.  We  saw  our  opportunity  to  get  the  Hartsville 
Methodist  preacher  for  one  sermon  every  Sabbath.  We 
immediately  raised  a  fund  by  subscription  of  $125,  and  the  band 
of  Methodists  delegated  me  to  go  down  to  the  first  quarterly 
meeting  and  ask  for  a  preacher.  We  succeeded  and  held  forth 
for  one  year  in  this  noted  and  sacred  house  of  God,  built  say  in 
1796.  The  congregations  were  good  and  rather  cosmopolitan, 
and,  would  you  believe  it,  that  a  church  could  have  preaching  a 
whole  year  without  a  dime's  worth  of  running  expenses.  .  The 


41 

older  people  up  that  way  were  overjoyed  for  services  in  the  old 
place,  and  to  hear  the  sound  of  the  Sabbath  bell  that  they  so 
often  heard  in  their  youth.  The  old  sexton  was  the  same  and 
his  salary  was  nothing.  Wood  was  nothing.  No  collections 
were  taken  up  for  anything.  The  only  expense  there  was  the 
$125  for  the  pastor's  salary.  We  held  evening  meetings  from 
house  to  house  and  the  rooms  were  packed.  We  got  along  with- 
out any  musical  instrument  because  the  singing  was  from  the 
heart,  and  if  you  had  been  there  you  would  have  thought  they 
were  all  born  Methodists,  as  all  were  born  Christians.  That 
year  was  one  of  the  happiest  yjears  that  I  have  seen  in  my 
experience.  The  result  was  there  were  a  good  many  conversions, 
and  we  told  them  all  to  join  their  respective  churches.  Some  ol 
the  young  men  afterwards  were  killed  at  Port  Hudson  in  the  civil 
war,"' 

In  1873  the  old  meeting  house  and  bell  were  disposed  of  at 
auction,  the  purchasers  being  the  Methodist  Episcopal  society 
of  Housatonic.  The  building  was  taken  down  and  with  the 
flag  walk  which  led  up  to  the  church  was  removed  to  Housa- 
tonic, where  it  is  still  doing  service  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  that  village.  By  this  sale  the  Church  Fund  was 
increased  $430.62. 

Time,  which  makes  many  changes,  wrought  a  change  in  the 
feelings  of  the  people  in  the  Old  Center  and  gradually  they 
entered  into  the  worship,  work  and  support  of  the  new  church. 

In  1874  and  1875  there  was  a  great  awakening  throughout 
all  the  neighboring  churches  and  the  members  of  this  church 
became  anxious  lest  they  should  be  passed  by.  At  that  time 
there  was  no  settled  pastor  here  and  the  church  met  for  counsel 
and  special  prayer  on  the  subject.  Marshall  S.  Bidwell  says  : 
' '  We  were  in  straits  and  we  cried  unto  the  Lord  and  He  heard  us 
and  saved  us  out  of  our  trouble."  Mr.  O.  L-  Leonard,  under 
whose  direction  the  special  service  had  been  held,  came  to  Monte- 
rey to  ask  if  they  would  welcome  and  help  in  a  special  effort  for 
the  salvation  of  souls.  It  was  in  haying  time  but  the  people  were 
anxious  for  the  manifest  presence  of  God  among  them  and  they 
recognized  in  O.  L.  Leonard's  request  the  answer  to  their  prayers 


42 

and  tespoiided  "  that  they  would  heartily  welcome  the  effort  and 
help  to  the  full  measure  of  their  ability."  Haying  time  did  not 
hinder  the  meetings.  The  people  flocked  to  the  church  ;  the 
spirit  of  God  was  upon  them  for  service.  Said  one  of  the  converts 
of  that  season  of  grace:  "  I  was  a  Godless  man,  but  when  two  of 
my  neigbors  came  to  me  out  in  the  hayfield  and  with  tears  in  their 
eyes  told  me  of  the  meetings  and  of  their  special  anxiety  for  me  I 
could  not  resist  it,  and  that  night  I  came  to  the  meeting  and  soon 
after  submitted  myself  to  God." 

The  church  was  greatly  strengthened  by  this  period  of  revival 
and  as  a  result  seventy-one  persons  were  received  into  fellowship. 
O.  ly.  Leonard  at  the  close  of  the  services  went  to  Europe  for  rest 
and  wrote  for  the  Berkshire  Courier  the  following  touching  poem 
on  the  subject  of  this  local  revival  : 

MONTEREY  AND  SOUTHERN  BERKSHIRE. 


FOR    THE    BERKSHIRE    COURIER. 

Though  old  ocean's  waves  are  flowing 
'Twixt  my  native  land  and  nie, 

Memory's  page  is  brightly  glowing, 
Monterey,  with  thoughts  of  thee. 

O,  how  well  do  I  remember 

Joyous  seasons  witnessed  there, 

Through  October  and  November — 
Precious  days  and  weeks  of  prayer  ! 

There  was  deep,  heartfelt  contrition, 
Tear-drops  falling  from  each  eye  ; 

And  God  granted  our  petition  ; 
Power  descended  from  on  high. 

Then  the  spells  of  sin  were  broken. 

Then  we  saw  surprising  grace ; 
O,  how  glorious  was  the  token — 

Converts  thronging  to  the  place. 


43 

As  they  told  the  thrilling  story, 
What  a  Saviour  they  had  found, 

How  the  tidal  wave  of  glory 

Swept  through  all  the  region  round. 

Southfield,  Hartsville  and  Mill  River, 

Tyringham  and  Ashley  Falls, 
Sheffield,  Huxley —  dear  forever 

Each  loved  spot  my  mind  recalls. 

Hundreds  to  the  Saviour  turning. 
Joined  to  sing  Inimanuel's  praise  ; 

How  my  heart  is  fondly  yearning 
In  such  work  to  spend  my  days ! 

With  the  Spirit's  power  and  blessing, 

I  would  pray  and  labor  on. 
Till,  Heaven's  fadeless  joys  possessing, 

I  shall  hear  the  glad  "  well  done." 

Friends  in  all  these  distant  places. 

Still  remember  me  in  prayer  ; 
If  no  more  I  see  your  faces. 
May  we  all  meet  "  over  there." 

O.  L.  Leonard. 
Dundalk,  Ireland.  June  12,  1875. 


A  reference  to  the  list  of  pastors  from  1875  to  1900  will  show 
frequent  changes.  Many,  however,  were  supplies.  The  present 
pastor,  Rev.  John  Dooly,  was  born  in  Albany.  N.  Y.,  and  for 
over  25  years  had  been  a  missionary  among  "the  other  half," 
having  been  17  years  in  New  York  City  mission  work,  and  four 
and  one-half  years  Superintendent  of  City  Missions  in  Albany,  N. 
Y.,  and  afterwards  Superintendent  of  Berkshire  Industrial  Farm. 
He  resigned  the  pastorate  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  West 
Milton,  N.  Y.,  to  become  pastor  here  and  entered  on  his  pastor- 
ate January  i,  1898.  An  account  is  now  given  of  the  various 
organizations  in  the  Church  at  the  present  time. 


44 
THE  SABBATH  SCHOOL. 


There  are  no  records  to  show  the  exact  time  in  which  thi& 
work  for  the  children  was  begun,  but  it  was  during  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  J.  Warren  Dow  and,  from  references  made  to  it,  the 
year  1820  is  the  probable  time.  At  present  the  school  has 
an  enrolled  membership  of  over  100.  The  service  is  held  at 
the  close  of  the  morning  worship  and  many  adults  remain  and 
constitute  five  Bible  classes.  The  Primary  class,  through  the 
efforts  of  Mrs.  G.  A.  Koos  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  has  received  a 
present  of  a  beautiful  blackboard  as  a  birthday  gilt  in  commemo- 
ration of  the  150th  anniversary  of  the  Church.  The  donors  were 
the  Primary  class  of  the  Memorial  Presbyterian  Church  Sunday 
School,  Seventh  Avenue  and  St.  John's  Place,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y, 
The  present  officers  of  the  school  are,  superintendent,  Martin  V. 
Thomson;  assistant  superintendent,  A.  M.  Dowd  ,  secretary  and 
treasurer,  Charles  P.  Hyde  ;  librarian,  George  L.  Keyes. 

The  school  has  an  excellent  library  which  is  annually  ren- 
dered more  inviting  by  the  addition  of  new  books. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  former  superintendents  : 
Stephen  Fairbanks,  Stephen  Bentley, 

Paul  Chapin,  Daniel  McCollum, 

Elias  Wright,  Jonathan  Townsend, 

Marshall  Bidwell,  James  Dowd, 

Martin  V.  Thomson,  Rev.  A.  E.  Todd, 

Rufus  Barnum,  James  L.  Twing, 

Albert  Dowd. 

One  of  these,  Rufus  Barnum,  died  while  he  was  superinten- 
dent, on  February  26,  1883,  26  years  of  age,  greatly  beloved  by 
the  school  and  the  neighborhood  for  his  beautiful  and  devoted 
Christian  character.  He  was  a  favorite  with  the  young  especially, 
owing  to  his  cheerful  happiness  of  disposition,  which  led  him  to 
take  part  with  them  in  their  social  enjoyments  and  out-of-door 
pleasures .  

THE  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E. 

In  the  summer  of  1884  Rev.  W.  A.  Fobes,  then  pastor  of 
the  church,  called  the  young  people  together  and  told  them  of 


45 

Dr.  F.  E.  Clark's  Christian  Endeavor  Society  and  as  a  result  a 
constitution  was  adopted  and  a  society  organized  in  July  with  37 
members,  22  Active  and  15  Associate.  Wm,  S.  Bidwell  was  the 
first  president.  This  society  was  the  fourth  society  in  the  County 
and  was  represented  at  the  convention  in  Saratoga  when  the 
United  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  was  organized. 

The  present  membership  is,  Active  29,   Associate    12;    the 
officers  and  committees  are  as  follows: 

OFFICERvS. 
President,  R.J.GOLDBERG 

Vice-President,  J.  L.  TVVING 

Secretary  and  Treasurer,  vSOPHIA  L.  BIDWELL 

Corresponding  vSecretary,  JESSIE  A.  TOWNSEND 

COMMITTEES. 

PRAYRR-MEETING. 

A.  M.  Dowd,  Chairman.     Mrs,   J.    W.  Gregory,  G.  L-  Keyes,  E.  L. 
Stoebner,  Rev.  John  Dooly. 

LOOKOUT. 

Harriet  Bidwell,  Chairman.     Mrs.  E.  Stedman,  Lafayette  Batelle 

R.J.  Goldberg,  Fannie  Robinson. 

SOCIAI,. 

H.  B.  Smith,  Chairman.     Rev.   John  Dooly,    W.  S.  Bidwell,  Mrs.  J. 
L.  Twing,  Mrs.  Goldberg. 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

Helen  Townsend,  Chairman.     J.  L.  Twing,  Mary  Dowd,  Clara  Lang- 
don,  C.  P.  Hyde. 

TEMPERANCE. 

J.  C.  Hyde,  Chairman.     Mrs.  F.  Brochu,   M.  V.  Thomson. 

MISSIONARY. 

Mrs.  J.  Dooly,  Chairman.     Mrs.  R.  J.  Goldberg,  Mrs.  J.  Hyde. 

FLORAL. 
Jessie  Townsend,  Chairman.     Lucy  Dowd,  Clara  Gregory,  Bert  Tryon, 
Samuel  Battelle. 


THE  WOMEN  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

Not  only  the  membership  but  all  the  women  who  attend  the 
church,  some  of  whom  have  other  church  affiliations,  are  helpers 
together  for  the  good  of  the  church. 


46 

Banded  together  in  the  Women's  Missionary  Society,  the 
Ladies  Aid  Society,  the  Young  Ladies  Guild,  the  church  repairs 
and  extra  needs,  and  latterly  part  of  the  pastor's  salary,  are  pro- 
vided for  by  them  ;  and  for  over  20  years  the  expenses  of  a  stu- 
dent in  one  of  the  Schools  for  Girls  in  India  have  been  paid  by 
their  efforts. 

Lately  the  Young  Ladies  Guild  have  furnished  the  church 
with  a  new  organ,  thoroughly  repaired  the  basement  by  putting 
in  new  flooring  and  furniture,  painting  and  kalsomining  and  as 
an  anniversary  offering  have,  in  union  with  the  Ladies  Aid  So- 
ciety, furnished  the  church  with  100  copies  of  "  In  Excelsis,"  the 
edition  of  1900  published  by  the  Century  Co.,  New  York  city. 


THE  BENEVOLENCES  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

During  the  past  twenty  years  the  church  has  given  to  the 
boards  and  various  benevolences  an  average  of  eighty-two  dollars 
per  year. 

THE  FINANCES  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

The  income  from  the  invested  fund  in  charge  of  the  Society 
referred  to  on  page  16  is  annually  paid  to  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Meeting  House  Society,  which  at  present  is  $165  per  annum. 

The  people  make  free  will  offerings  in  weekly  pledges  or 
annual  subscriptions  which,  with  the  collections,  are  paid  to  the 
Meeting  House  Society,  who  are  the  Committee  of  Ways  and 
means,  and  who  pay  the  expenses  of  the  church,  which  annually 
average  $750.  The  church  has  never  received  aid  from  the 
Home  Missionary  Society  and  is  out  of  debt. 


PRESENT  MEMBERSHIP. 

From  the  beginning  to  the  present  time  the  church  has 
received  into  its  fellowship  886  persons  and  baptized  847  adults 
and  children.     The  present  membership  is  31  males,  72  females, 


47 

total  103.  of  whom  33  are  absent.  Thus  the  available  working 
force  of  the  church  is  only  70,  but  it  has  pleased  God  that  these 
are  earnest  and  loyal  to  the  great  responsibilities  entrusted  to 
them.  This  is  manifest  by  their  presence  regularly  in  the  services 
of  the  church,  and  their  record  in  the  support  of  the  Gospel. 
Some  of  the  absentees  not  only  report  b}^  letter  at  the  annual 
meeting  but  also  continue  their  church  subscription,  annually 
sending  to  the  treasurer  their  usual  offering.  It  is  hoped  that 
the  friends  of  this  time-honored  church  will  realize  the  great  im- 
portance of  increasing  the  endowment  fund,  so  that  the  church 
may  in  its  future  history  continue  to  be  self-supporting  and  thus 
be  a  help  to  the  Home  Missionary  Society.  The  necessity  of 
some  such  provision  is  apparent  when  it  is  known  that  for  years 
past  the  Churchhasbeen  losingits  chief  supporters  by  death.  The 
present  membership  are  doing  all  that  is  in  their  power  to  do  for 
the  interests  of  the  work  of  God  in  Monterey. 

At  the  annual  meeting  December  18.  1896,  it  was  voted  to 
adopt  the  following  creed  as  expressing  in  its  substance  the 
church's  interpretation  of  the  Bible. 

THE  CREED  OF  1883. 

I.  We  believe  in  one  God,  the  Father  Almighty.  Maker  of  heaven 
and  earth,  and  of  all  things  visible  and  invisible. 

And  in  Jesus  Christ,  His  only  Son,  our  Lord,  who  is  of  one  substance 
with  the  Father  ;  by  whom  all  things  were  made  ; 

And  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  Lord  and  Giver  of  Life,  who  is  sent  from 
the  Father  and  Son,  and  who  together  with  the  Father  and  Son  is  worshiped 
and  glorified. 

II.  We  believe  that  the  providence  of  God,  by  which  He  executes 
His  eternal  purposes  in  the  government  of  the  world,  is  in  and  over  all 
events;  yet  so  that  the  freedom  and  responsibility  of  men  are  not  impaired, 
and  sin  is  the  act  of  the  creature  alone. 

III.  We  believe  that  man  was  made  in  the  image  of  God;  that  he 
might  know,  love,  and  obey  God,  and  enjoy  Him  forever;  that  our  first 
parents  by  disobedience  fell  under  the  righteous  condemnation  of  God  ; 
and  that  all  men  are  so  alienated  from  God  that  there  is  no  salvation  from 
the  guilt  and  power  of  sin  except  through  God's  redeeming  grace. 

IV.  We  believe  that  God  would  have  all  men  return  to  Him  ;  that  to 
this  end  He  made  Himself  known,  not  only  through  works  of  nature,  the 
course  of  His  providence,  and  the  consciences  of  men,  but  also  through 
supernatural  revelations  made  especially  to  a   chosen  people,  and   above 


48 

all,  when  the  fulness  of  time  was  come,  through  Jesus  Christ,  His  Son. 

V.  We  believe  that  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments 
are  the  record  of  God's  revelation  of  Himself  in  the  work  of  redemption  ; 
that  the)-  were  written  by  men  under  the  special  guidance  of  the  Holy- 
Spirit  ;  that  they  are  able  to  make  wise  unto  salvation  ;  and  that  they  con- 
stitute the  authorative  standard  by  which  religious  teaching  and  human 
conduct  are  to  be  regulated  and  judged. 

VI.  We  believe  that  the  love  of  God  to  sinful  men  has  fouud  its 
highest  expression  in  the  redemptive  work  of  His  Son  ;  who  became  man, 
uniting  his  divine  nature  with  our  human  nature  in  one  person  ;  who  was 
tempted  like  other  men,  yet  without  sin  ;  who  by  His  humiliation,  His 
holy  obedience,  His  sufferings,  His  death  on  the  cross,  and  His  resurrec- 
tion, became  a  perfect  Redeemer  ;  whose  sacrifice  of  Himself  for  the  sins 
of  the  world  declares  the  righteousness  of  God,  and  is  the  sole  and  suffi- 
cient ground  of  forgiveness  and  reconciliation  with  him. 

VII.  We  believe  that  Jesus  Christ,  after  He  had  risen  from  the  dead, 
ascended  into  heaven,  where,  as  the  one  mediator  between  God  and  man. 
He  carries  forward  His  work  of  saving  men  ;  that  He  sends  the  Holy  Spirit 
to  convict  them  of  sin,  and  to  lead  them  to  repeutence  and  faith,  and  that 
those  who  through  renewing  grace  turn  to  righteousness,  and  trust  in 
Jesus  Christ  as  their  Redeemer,  receive  for  His  sake  the  forgiveness  o 
their  sins,  and  are  made  the  children  of  God. 

VIII.  We  believe  that  those  who  are  thus  regenerated  and  justified, 
grow  in  sanctified  character  through  fellowship  with  Christ,  the  indwell- 
ing of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  obedience  to  the  truth  ;  that  a  holy  life  is  the 
fruit  and  evidence  of  saving  faith  ;  and  that  the  believer's  hope  of  contin- 
xiance  in  such  a  life  is  in  the  preserving  grace  of  God. 

IX.  We  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  came  to  establish  among  men  the 
kingdom  of  God,  the  reign  of  truth,  love,  righteousness  and  peace; 
that  to  Jesus  Christ,  the  Head  of  this  kingdom.  Christians  are  directly 
responsible  in  faith  and  conduct;  land  that  to  Him  all  have  immediate 
access  without  meditatorial  or  priestly  intervention. 

X.  We  believe  that  the  Church  of  Christ,  invisible  and  spiritual,  com- 
prises all  true  believers,  whose  duty  it  is  to  associate  themselves  in 
churches  for  the  maintenance  of  worship,  for  the  promotion  of  spiritual 
growth  and  fellowship,  and  for  the  conversion  of  men  ;  that  these  churches 
under  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  in  fellowship  with  one 
another,  may  determine — -each  for  itself — their  organization,  statements 
of  belief,  and  forms  of  worship,  may  appoint  and  set  apart  their  own  min- 
isters, and  should  co-operate  in  the  work  which  Christ  has  committed  to 
them  for  the  furtherance  of  the  Gospel  throughout  the  w^orld. 

XI.  We  believe  in  the  observance  of  the  Lord's  Day,  as  a  day  of  holy 
rest  and  worship  ;  in  the  ministry  of  the  Word  ;  and  in  the  two  sacraments 
which  Christ  has  appointed  for  His  church  ;  Baptism  to  be  administered 
to  believers  as  the   sign  of  cleansing  from    sin,  of  union   to  Christ,  and   of 


49 

the  impartatiou  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  as  a  symbol  of 
His  atoning  death,  a  seal  of  its  efficiency,  and  a  means  whereby  he  con- 
firms and  strengthens  the  spiritual  union  and  communion  of  believers 
with  himself. 

XII.  We  believe  in  the  ultimate  prevalence  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ 
over  all  the  earth  ;  in  the  glorious  appearing  of  the  great  God  and  our 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ  ;  in  the  resurrection  of  the  dead  ;  and  in  a  final 
judgment,  the  issues  of  which  are  everlasting  punishment  and  everlasting 
life. 

DECEMBER  l8,   1896. 

Voted  to  adopt  the  following  form  for  admission  to  the 
church. 

[This  being  the  form  prepared  by  a  committee  appointed  by 
the  National  Council  in  1889  and  submitted  to  the  churches  Feb- 
ruary 1894.] 

Those  who  are  to  be  received  being  arranged  in  convenient 
order  for  the  service,  with  such  announcement  and  introduction 
as  may  be  customar}^  the  minister  will  say  — 

Dearly  beloved,  called  of  God  to  be  his  children  thro'  Jesus 
Christ,  we  give  hearty  thanks  to  God,  who  by  His  spirit,  has 
opened  your  eyes  to  see  and  your  hearts  to  receive  Jesus  as  Lord 
and  who  has  inclined  you  to  present  yourselves  at  this  time  to 
make  confession  of  Him  — 

With  us  and  with  the  church  throughout  the  world  you 
confess  the  common  faith,  saying  : 

[The  congregation  joining,] 

I  believe  in  God  the  Father  Almighty,  maker  of  heaven  and 
earth  ;  and  in  Jesus  Christ,  His  only  Son,  our  Lord  ;  who  was 
conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary  ;  suffered 
under  Pontius  Pilate,  was  crucified,  dead  and  buried;  the  third 
day  He  arose  from  the  dead  ;  He  ascended  into  heaven  and  sitteth 
at  the  right  hand  of  God  the  Father  Almighty  ;  from  thence  He 
shall  come  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead.  I  believe  in  the 
Holy  Ghost,  the  holy  catholic  Church,  the  communion  of  Saints, 
the  forgiveness  of  Sins,  the  resurrection  of  the  body  and  the  life 
everlasting.     Amen. 

Thus  confessing  with  us  and  with  all  saints  youi  Christian 
faith,  before  the  Lord  Jesus  and  in  the  presence  of  His  people, 


50 

you  devote  yourselves  to  the  love,  obedience  and  service  of  Jesus 
Christ,  to  walk  in  all  His  ways  now  known  or  hereafter  to  be 
made  known  to  you,  whatever  it  may  cost  you  according  to  your 
best  endeavor,  the  Lord  assisting  you. 

Response,  I  do. 

[Then  should  baptism  be  administered  to  those  who  have  not 
been  baptized.] 

The  baptism  shall  be  with  these  words: —     I    baptize   thee, 

,  into  the  name  of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy 

Ghost,  Amen. 

[Here  and  wherever  in  the  service  Amen  is  used  it  may,  if 
desired,  be  said  by  the  congregation.] 

Then  should  those  who  have  letters  from  other  churches 
come  forward  or  rise,  as  by  previous  arrangement. 

[The  minister  may  greet  these,  saying:  Beloved  in  the  Lord, 
we  bid  you  welcome  who  come  to  renew  the  vows  before  made 
when  elsewhere  you  declared  your  faith  in  Christ.  We  greet 
you  as  kinsmen  in  Him,  as  fellow-laborers  in  His  service  and  fel- 
low-travelers to  His  promised  rest.] 

The  Minister,  addressing  all  who  are  to  enter  into  fellowship 
with  the  church,  will  say  : 

Beloved  in  the  Lord,  you  have  all  been  baptized  into  the 
name  of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  have 
confessed  the  faith  of  Christ  before  witnesses  and  have  given 
yourselves  to  God  in  an  everlasting  covenant  of  Grace.  You  do 
now  cordially  unite  yourselves  with  this  church  of  Christ,  to 
share  with  us  in  its  worship,  work  and  support ;  to  walk  with  us 
in  love  and  faithfulness,  so  long  as  your  relation  to  us  shall  con- 
tinue. 

[Here  may  be  added  such  specific  pledges  as  any  church 
may  desire.] 

Response,  I  do. 

The  members  of  the  church  shall  rise  and  the  minister  will 
say  : 

[Either  alone  or  leading  the  church  as  may  be  desired.] 

We,  then,  the  members  of  this  church,  receive  you  into  our 
communion  and  welcome  you  with  joy  to  our  fellowship.     We 


51 

promise  to  pray  for  you,  to  watch  over  you  and  help  you  so  long 
as  you  shall  continue  with  us.  God  grant,  that  loving  and 
being  loved,  serving  and  being  served,  blessing  and  being  blessed, 
we  may  be  prepared  while  we  dwell  together  on  earth  for  the 
perfect  fellowship  of  the  Saints  above,  Amen. 

[Here  the  minister  may  give  to  each  the  hand  of  fellowship 
with  some  appropriate  passage  of  scripture,  in  this  or  like  man- 
ner. 

In  token  of  our  welcome  receive  the  hand  of  fellowship,  and 
remember  the  words  of  Scripture  which  saith,  ' '  Ye  are  my  friends, 
if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  command  you."]  And  the  service  shall  be 
ended  with  one  of  these  benedictions. 

[Except  that  when  it  is  the  usage,  may  be  sung  by  the 
church,  still  standing  after  the  benediction,  rhe  ancient  doxology, 
' '  Glory  be  to  the  Father  and  to  the  Son  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost : 
As  it  was  in  the  beginning,  is  now  and  ever  shall  be,  world  with- 
out end.  Amen.] 

' '  The  Lord  bless  you  and  keep  you  ;  the  Lord  make  his 
face  to  shine  upon  you  and  be  gracious  unto  you ,  the  Lord  lift 
up  His  countenance  upon  you  and  give  you  Peace."  Amen. 

'•  Now  unto  him  who  is  able  to  guard  you  from  stumbling, 
and  to  set  you  before  the  presence  of  His  glory  without  blemish, 
in  exceeding  joy,  to  the  only  God  our  Saviour,  thro' Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord,  be  glory,  majesty,  dominion  and  power  before  all 
time,  and  now,  and  evermore.  Amen." 

[This  form  can  be  abbreviated  by  disregarding  the  portions 
bracketed.] 

RULES. 

1ST.  —  The  Annual  Meeting  of  this  Church  shall  be  held  on  the  third 
Friday  of  December.  Notice  of  which  shall  be  posted  up  one  week  pre- 
vious by  the  Clerk. 

2D. —  The  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  shall  be  administered  in 
this  Church,  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  each  alternating  month,  commencing 
with  January. 

SD. —There  shall  be  a  service,  preparatory  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  on 
the  Wednesday  preceding  the  administration  of   that  ordinance. 

4TH.  —  There  shall  be  a  Church  meeting,  for  prayer,  for  examination 
of  applicants  for  membership,  and  for  such  other  business  as  may  properly 
come  before  the  church,  on   the   third  Friday  preceding  the  Sabbath  on 


52 

which  the  Lord's  Supper  is  administered.  And  on  every  other  Friday 
there  shall  be  a  meeting  for  prayer  and  Christian  conference,  except  the 
weeks  on  which  are  the  Preparatory  lecture. 

5TH.  — None  from  the  world  shall  be  admitted  to  this  church  but  such 
as  give  creditable  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart.  Neither  shall  any  one  be 
admitted,  who  cannot  adopt  all  the  Articles  of  Faith;  without  action  of 
the  church. 

6th.  —  Persons  proposing  to  unite  with  this  Church  may  be  examined 
by  the  Pastor,  Prudential  Committee,  and  members.  And  shall  be  pro- 
pounded at  least  two  Sabbaths,  (unless  the  church  shall  otherwise  order) 
at  the  expiration  of  which  time  the  person  may  be  received,  if  the  church 
shall  so  vote  at  the  preceding  Preparatory  Lecture. 

yTH.  —  All  letters  recommending  persons  to  our  communion  and  care, 
bearing  date  more  than  one  year  previous  to  the  time  at  which  they  are 
presented,  shall  be  read  two  Sabbaths  (unless  the  church  shall  direct  other- 
wise) before  any  vote  is  taken  upon  them.  Then,  if  no  objection  be  offered, 
the  person  recommended  can  be  received.  In  case  of  objection,  admission 
shall  be  deferred  until  the  objection  has  been  made  a  subject  of  church 
action. 

8th.  —  Application  for  letters  of  admission  and  recommendation  to 
another  church  shall  be  laid  before  the  church,  and  may  be  acted  upon  at 
any  stated  meeting  of  the  church  next  subsequent  to  its  reception  by  the 
church.  Such  letters  shall  be  withheld  in  case  of  any  objection  being  made 
by  any  member,  until  the  objection  has  been  withdrawn,  or  the  matter 
has  been  investigated  by  the  church.  No  letter  shall  be  good  for  more 
than  one  year  from  its  date. 

gTH.  —  Members  of  other  evangelical  churches  in  good  standing  who 
may  providentially  be  among  us,  are  invited  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per with  this  church  for  the  space  of  one  year,  and  no  longer  unless  they 
give  satisfactory  reasons  why  the  indulgence  should  be  prolonged. 

loTH.  — When  members  have  been  absent  from  us  one  year  or  longer 
without  reporting  themselves  to  the  church,  they  shall  be  written  to  by 
the  clerk,  and  unless  satisfactory  reasons  be  given  for  not  asking  a  letter 
of  dismissal  and  recommendation,  the  watch  and  care  of  the  church  may 
be  withdrawn  from  such  members  by  vote  of  the  church. 

iiTH.  —  No  offence  of  any  member  shall  be  brought  before  the  church 
till  the  previous  steps  have  been  taken  with  him,  prescribed  in  the  i8th 
Chapter  of  Matthew  by  our  Lord.  In  case  the  residence  of  the  offending 
member  is  unknown,  or  so  distant  as  to  preclude  taking  the  preliminary 
steps,  a  vote  of  the  church  shall  decide  the  course  to  be  pursued  in  the 
premises. 

I2TH.  —  There  shall  be  a  collection  taken,  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
the  communion  for  the  year  preceding,  at  the   Annual   Meeting. 


53 

DISTRICT  COMMITTEE. 
13TH.  —  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  committee  to  endeavor  by  visita- 
tion and  personal  conversation  to  promote  the  spiritual  welfare  of  each 
one  in  their  districts  :  to  gather  the  children  into  the  Sunday  school,  to 
ascertain  as  for  as  possible  the  number  of  inhabitants,  the  number  of 
church  members  and  to  what  denomination  they  belong,  how  many  do 
not  attend  church  or  Sunday  school  and  any  other  information  that  may 
be  interesting  or  needful  for  the  church  to  know  in  regard  to  their  several 
districts. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are  as  follows : 

PASTOR. 

REV.  JOHN    DOOLY. 

DEACONS. 

MARSHALL  S.  BIDWELL,  MARTIN  V.  THOMPSON, 

JOHN  C.  HYDE,  ALBERT  M.  DOWD. 

The  services,  and  special  and  regular  notices  of  the  church 
are  as  follows  : 

THE   LORD'S  DAY. 

Divine  Worship,  10:30  a.  m. 

Sunday  School,  11:45  a.  m. 

First  Lord's  Day  evening.  Young  People's  service. 

Second  Lord's  Day  evening,  Mission  topic. 

Third  Lord's  Day  evening,  Temperance  topic. 

Fourth  Lord's  Day  evening  Evangelistic 

Fifth  Lord's  Day  evening.  Praise  and  Promise. 

The  Communion  of  the  Lord's  Supper  will  be  administered  the  first 
Lord's  Day  morning  of  January,  March,  May,  July,  September,  and 
November. 

Preparatory  service  will  be  held  the  Wednesday  evening  previous  to 
communion. 

Candidates  for  admission  to  the  Church  will  meet  the  Prudential  Com- 
mittee on  the  second  Friday  evening  of  December,  Febuary,  April,  June, 
August,  and  October. 

Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  meeting  each  Friday  evening  at  7:30  o'clock. 

N.  B. — ^  The  pastor  will  meet  by  special  appointment  any  person  who 
desires  religious  conversation  or  instruction. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  those  who  have  been 
received  into  the  fellowship  of  the  church,  except  the  names 
which  appear  in  the  reprint  of  the  membership  page  28  to  31: 


54 

1750  Adonijah  Bid  well,  Pastor, 
Ephraim  Thomas, 

John  Jackson, 
Thomas  Orton, 
John  Chadwick, 
William  Hale, 
Jabez  Davas, 
David  Everest. 

1 75 1  Isaac  Garfield. 

Mary  Brewer,  his  wife, 

Daniel  Everest, 

Abigail  Porter,  wife  of  Ephriam  Thomas 

Mercy  Chadwick,  wife  of  John  Jackson, 

Hepzibah  Buel,  wife  of  Thomas  Orton, 

Gillin ,  wife  of  Jabez  Davis, 

Leah,  a  servant  maid, 

Margaret  Kellogg,  wife  of  Giles  Slater, 

Hannah  Brewer,  wife  of  William  Hale, 

Scipio,  a  servant  man. 

Abigail  Brewer,  wnfe  of  John  Chadwick. 

1752  Ann  Rising,  wife  of  John  Brewer,  Jr., 

1754  Joshua  Warren,  Jr., 
Eunice  Thomas,  his  wife. 

1755  Elijah  Grisw^old, 
Abigail  Thomas,  his  wife, 
Ezekiel  Thomas, 
Reuben  Spaulding, 

John  Kellogg, 
Union,  his  wife. 

1756  Thaddeus  Graves, 
Nathaniel  Cowle, 

Lydia  Thurston,  wife  of  Asa  Allen. 

1757  Ruth  Sedgwick,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Cowle, 
Theodosia  Colton,  wife  of  Rev.  Adonijah  Bidwell, 
Jacob  Brown. 

Gershom  Wood  worth, 
Rosanna,  his  wife. 


55 

1758  Moses  Thurston. 
Nehemiah  Hopkins, 
Tryphena,  his  wife, 
Samuel  Sedgwick, 
Deborah,  his  wife, 

1759  David  Brewer. 

1 76 1  Jemima  Devotion,  wife  of  Rev.  Adonijah  Bidwell, 
Ebenezer  Tillotson, 

Tamar,  his  wife. 

1762  Jonathan  Hinkley, 
Ethan  Lewis, 
Cybel,  his  wife, 
Aaron  Beach. 

1764     Samuel  Fuller, 

Sarah,  wife  of  Gideon  Joslyn, 

Joseph  Tillotson, 

Phebe  Hull,  wife  of  Samuel  Graves. 

1767  Hezikiah  Hall, 
Deborah  Daniels,  his  wife, 

Jillin  Davis,  wife  of  Jonathan  Lane. 

1768  Josiah  Brewer, 
Mary  Hall,  his  wife. 

1769  Japheth  Chapin, 

Patience  Haywood,  his  wife, 

Nathan  Abbot, 

Mercy  Danforth,  his  wife. 

1770  Nathaniel  Patten  and  his  wife. 

1 77 1  John  Hulet, 
Sarah,  his  wife, 
Mary  Garfield. 

1773  David  Talcott, 
Hezikiah  Culver, 

Ann ,  his  wife, 

Ezekiel  Herrick, 
Abigail  Wilson,  his  wife. 

1774  Hannah  Amedown,  wife  of  Capt.  Samuel  Wheelock, 
Ruth  Kent,  wife  of  Rev.  Adonijah  Bidwell. 


56 

1775  Benjamin  Joslyn, 
Esther  Green,  his  wife, 
Hezikiah  Wells  and  his  wife, 
Reuben  Rockwood, 

Lydia  Green,  his  wife, 

Thankful,  wife  of  Cornelius  Dowd. 

1776  Stephen  Taylor, 
Dilla  Rust,  his  wife, 
Samuel  Rust, 

Beulah ,  his  wife, 

Widow  Mary  Baldwin, 

Eunice  Rickerson,  wife  of  Elam  Jewett, 

Nathaniel  Bradley, 

Mary ,his  wife. 

1777  Samuel  Moorey  and  wife. 

1779  Lydia  Abbott,  wife  of  Thomas  Danforth, 
Sarah  Herrick,  wife  of  Abraham  Collins. 

1780  John  Dodge, 

Sarah  Warren,  his  wife. 

1 78 1  Stephen  Rice, 

David  Seymour  and  his  wife, 

Peter  Morse, 

Jonathan  Chapin, 

Rebecca  Hall,  his  wife. 
1783     Paul  Chapin, 

Samuel  Townsend. 

1789     Mary Grafton.  (Wid.) 

1792     John  Clark  and  his  wife. 

1794     Huldah  Sprague,  wife  of  Joseph  Bird. 

1796     Lydia  Nelson,  wife  of  Parker  Brewer. 

1798  Elizabeth  L.  Chubb,  wife  of  Daniel  Hobbs. 

1799  Benjamin  Reed  and  his  wife. 

1800  Bethiah  Daniels^  wife  of  Aaron  Taft. 

1 80 1  Esther  Hutcherson,  wife  of  Noah  Allen, 
Esther  Tyrrel,  wife  of  Isaac  Brewer. 

1802  Elijah  Walter, 
Rachel,  his  daughter. 


57 

i8o3     Katherine  Btirgis,  wife  of  Darius  Orton, 
Isaac  Walker, 
Jerusha  Garfield,  his  wife. 

1808     Mercy  Partridge,  wife  of  Ebenezei  Reuwee, 
Mary  Marsey,  wife  of  Matthew  Lyon, 
Milatiah  Wheelock, 

Hannah  Demming,  wife  of  lyemuel  Townsend, 
Sarah  Marshall,  wife  of  Chelsae  Smith, 
Sarah  Reed, 
Benjamin  Griffin, 
Rachel  Wheelock,  his  wife, 
Amasa  Curtis, 
EUsha  Taylor, 
Jerusha  Hutchins,  his  wife, 
Benjamin  Warren,  Jr., 
Alvan  Taylor, 
Polly  Myers,  his  wife, 
Manassah  Farebank, 
Octava  Taylor,  his  wife, 
Penuel  Hobbs, 
Josiah  Spencer, 
Mary  Ann  Stedman,  his  wife, 
Darius  Stebbins, 
Louisa  Merrick,  his  wife, 
Giles  Slater, 
Washington  Weld, 
Lester  Taylor. 
Nathan  Hale, 
Alexander  Wheelock, 

Bethiah  Taft,  wife  of  Deacon  Joseph  Chapin, 
Elizabeth  Culver,  wife  of  Nathaniel  P.  Russel, 
Betsy  Russel, 

Hannah  Hale,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Brewer, 
Mary  Field,  wife  of  Elijah  Walter, 
Amy  Hynss,  wife  of  John  Heath, 
Ruth  Blakely,  wife  of  Gideon  Gates. 
Olive  Taylor, 


58 

Luc}'  Markham, 

Almira  Markham, 

Milatiah  Chapin,  wife  of  Elijah  Foster, 

Polly  Jackson,  wife  of  Hezekiah  Lewis, 

Betsy  Brewer,  wife  of  Perkins  King, 

Puah  Reuwee, 

Anna  Wheelock, 

Polly  Reed, 

Amy  Richards, 

Pede  Wheelock, 

Rhoda  Wheelock, 

Chloe  Brewer, 

Hutchins  Taylor, 

Betsy  Kingsbury,  wife  of  Chester  Lord, 

Lois  Wheelock, 

Mary 'Brewer,  wife  of  Silas  Brewer, 

Parna  Clark,  wife  of  Lester  Taylor, 

Soloman  Garfield, 

Achsah  Brewer, 

Hezikiah  Merriam, 

Almira  Foster, 

Noah  Allen, 

Rev.  Joseph  Avery, 

Deborah  King,  his  wife, 

Melicent  Bench,  wife  of  Adonijah  Bidwell, 

Huldah  Orton,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Chadwick, 

Jane  Dowd,  wife  of  Josiah  Brewer, 

Thankful  Brewer, 

Wife  of  Luther  Robinson, 

Sarah  Hill,  wife  of  Asa  Wadsworth, 

Ruth  Peck,  wife  of  Elisha  Garfield, 

Justus  Battle, 

Esther  Taylor,  his  wife, 

Sarah  Atwood,  wife  of  Giles  Jackson, 

Sally  Tyrrell,  wife  of  Joseph  Laird, 

Rachel  Bird,  wife  of  Hezekiah  Herrick, 

Nathaniel  Brewer, 


59 

Ruth  Bird,  wife  of  Soloman  Garfield, 

Louisa  Canfield,  wife  of  Miller  Peck, 

Rhoda  Sedgwick,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Reed, 

Achsah  Hall,  wife  of  William  Townsend. 

Margaret  Slater,  wife  of  Nathan  Merriam, 

Jerusha  Danforth,  wife  of  Joshua  Brewer, 

Amy  Howe, 

Malachi  Patridge, 

Susannah  Northorp, 

Esther  Culver. 

Sarah  Knapp,  wife  of  Noah  Allen, 

Noah  Martin, 

Hannah  Mun,  his  wife, 

Klijah  Kingsley, 

Olive  Allen,  wife  of  David  Brewer, 

Joseph  Bird, 

Luther  Robinson, 

Ebenezer  Jackson, 

Hannah  Brewer,  his  2nd  wife, 

Ruth  Kingsley, 

Rebecca  Avery, 

Miriam  Allen,  wife  of  Bob  Merriam, 

Giles  Jackson, 

Belinda  Orton,  wife  of  Jonas  Brewer, 

Betsey  Avery, 

Susannah  Taft,  wife  of  Giles  Slater, 

Jacob  Meyers, 

Alfred  Foster, 

Abigail,   his  wife, 

Hanna  Wheelock,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Jackson, 

Asa  Bigelow, 

Anson  W.  Bigelow, 

Harriet  Fowler,  his  wife, 

Thaddeus  Granger, 

Fanny  Granger, 

Laura  Granger, 

Jason  Langdon. 


6o 

Rhodahl  Granger,  his  wife, 
Chauncey  Langdou, 
Sylvia  Chapin,  wife  of  Joseph  Brewer, 
Joel  Deland, 
Arnold  Stedman, 
Freeman  Hancock, 
Alice  Louisa  Stebbins,  his  wife, 
Mary  Ann  Hancock, 
Sarah  Couch,  wife  of  Anson  Langdon, 
Lois  Ann  Couch,  wife  of  Addison  Stedman, 
Charlotte  Potter,  wife  of  Isaac  Brewer, 
Candall  Stoddard,  wife  of  Aaron  Tyrrel. 
Julia  Anna  Gilmore,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Reuwee, 
Sarah  More,  wife  of  George  Heath, 
Clarinda  Hale, 
Amanda  Brewer, 
Alvinzy  Wright, 
Daniel  McCollum, 
Frederick  Fairbank, 
Cyrus  Townsend, 
Grove  Tyrrel, 
Sarah  Townsend, 
Samuel  Eggleston,  Jr., 
Seth  M.  Kggleston, 
Sarah  Eggleston, 
Melinda  E.  Hobbs, 
Esther  L.  Brewer, 
Emeline  Brewer, 

Miriam  Tyrrel,  wife  of  Samuel  Tibballs, 
Phebe  Stevens,  wife  of  Dr.  Asa  G.  Welch, 
William  Porter, 
John  D.  Bid  well, 
Bidwell  Brewer, 
Allnion  Brewer, 
Milton  Brookins. 
1823     Samuel  Tibbals,  Jr., 

Amelia  Bigelow,  his  wife, 


6i 

Pleiades  Williams,  wife  of  William  BeTitle>% 

Electa  Royce,  wife  of  Joel  Deland, 

John  F.  Marcey, 

Sarah  Canfield,  his  wife, 

Dotia  Brewer, 

Rachel  Pane,  wife  of  Isaac  Rice, 

Eliza  Fowler,  wife  of  Bidwell  Brewer, 

Josiah  Brewer,  3rd, 

Polly  Potter,  his  wufe, 

Leonard  Potter, 

James  Breakenridge, 

Patience  Marcy,  his  wife, 

Emline  Bennett,  wife  of  Lawson  D.  Bidwell, 

Silas  Chapin, 

Thomas  D.  Hale, 

Betsey  Hale, 

Sylvester  Brewer, 

David  Ward. 

Algernon  Baldwin, 

Hiram  Brewer, 

Joseph  C.  Bentley, 

Aphronia  Bentley, 

Huldah  Brookins, 

Narcissa  Brewer, 

Betsey  Granger,  wife  of  Thomas  D.  Hale, 

Melona  C.  Granger, 

Eliza  Reuwee, 

H.  Emily  Hobbs, 

Mercy  Hobbs. 

Lucinda  Hobbs, 

William  Johnson, 

Betsey  Smith,  his  wife, 

Martha  HoUister,  wife  of  Seth  Landers. 

Theodosia  B.  Brew^er, 

Lester  W.  Morse, 

George  Smith, 

Lucinda  Fowler, 


62 

Margaret  D.  Jenkins, 

Celinda  Marcy, 

Phebe  Jones,  wife  of  Roswell  Bentley. 

1828  Calvin  L.  Marcy, 
IvUther  Marcy, 

Jerusha  Root,  wife  of  Elihu  Ward, 
Barnabus  Bid  well, 

1829  Seth  P.  Kingsley, 
Miriam  Northurp,  his  wife. 

1830  Steven  B.  Fairchild, 
Jessie  De Forrest, 
Rebecca  Brookins, 

Lucy  Barnum,  wife  of  Archabald  Fairchild, 

Roxanna  C.  Pratt,  wife  of  Elisha  Garfield, 

L,ucy  Brewer,  wife  of  Grove  Tyrrel, 

Milicent  Wilson,  wife  of  Daniel  McColluni, 

Uretta  Townsend,  wife  of  Nathan  Hovey, 

Esther  Towsend, 

Submit  R.  Deland, 

Phebe  Ann  Barden, 

Esther  M.  Brewer,   wife  of  Thomas  Hood, 

John  Brewer, 

Sarah  Peabody  Dow, 

Mary  Healey  Dow, 

William  Fairchild, 

Peneul  Hobb,  Jr. 

1833  Manila  Merritt,  wife  of  Cyrus  Townsend. 

1834  Townsend  Walker, 

Hannah  Prinlee,  wife  of  Joel  Deland. 

1835  Lydia  Jennison,  wife  of  Steven  B.  Fairchild, 
Cynthia  Kingsbury,  wife  of  Harvey  Brewer. 

1836  Milton  Brookins, 

Sophronia  G.  Spencer,  wife  of  Asa  Smith. 

1837  William  L.  Hollister, 
Elind  T.  Bishop, 
Eliza  Higgins,  his  wife, 

Sarah  Stebbins,  wife  of  Dennis  Brewer, 


63 

Emiline  Keyes,  wife  of  John  B.  Morse, 
Esther  P.  Williams,  wife  of  Rev.  A.  C.  Page. 
1838     Olive  Spear,  wife  of  Norman  B.  Sears. 

1840  Angustus  Taylor, 
Lucy  Hickok,  his  wife, 
Maria  Curtis, 
Sylvester  C.  Taylor, 
Elisha  Garfield, 

Elias  S.  Brewer, 

Alvina  Tryon,  wife  of  Wm.  Fairchild. 

1 84 1  Jonas  Brewer, 
Eunice  Smith,  his  wife, 

Caroline  Sumner,  wife  of  Wm.  Hale. 

1842  Polly  Case,  wife  of  Dea.  Amos  Langdon, 
Cyrus  D.  Stebbins, 

Nancy  Beach,  his  wife, 

Ann  Stebbins, 

Anson  Langdon, 

Henry  Langdon, 

Elias  Wright, 

Tryphena  Jones,  his  wife, 

Phoebe  Lawrence,  wife  of  Asa  Bigelow, 

Achsah  French,  wife  of  Penuel  Hobbs, 

Gilbert  L.  Granger, 

Edwin  C.  Bidwell, 

Orlando  B.  Bidwell, 

John  W.  Bidwell, 

Wm.  Hale, 

Almena  Wilcox,  wife  of  LutherjMarcy,. 

Henry  Pratt, 

William  W.   Deland, 

Roxama  Davis,  wifeof  Jared  Bishop, 

Samuel  Townsend, 

Hannah  H.  Pratt,  his  wife, 

Chauncy  Heath, 

Charles  Farnum, 

Almina  Collins,  wife  of  Elias  Brewer, 


64 

Hulda  Jane  Collins, 

Gertrude  A.  Townsend,  wife  of  Uriah  Brett, 

Mary  M.  Reuwee, 

Harriet  Reuwee, 

Chauncy  Langdon, 

Mary  Ann  Hancock,  his  wife, 

Sarah  C.  Wheelock, 

Millie  Ann  Wheelock. 

Millicent  Bench,  wife  of  Adonijah  Bid  well. 

1844  Alvan  H.  Turner,  M.  D., 

Eloisa  L.  Buffett,  wife  ot  Rev.  Samuel  Howe. 

1845  Mary  Marcy,  wife  of  Dennis  Canfield, 

1846  Mary  Ann  Whitney,  wife  of  Henry  Langdon. 
Harriet  Joslin,  wife  of  Lemuel  J.  Townsend, 
Jane  Crosby,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Reuwee. 

1850     Eliza  Wright,  wife  of  Ira  N.  Tuttle, 

Harriet  C.  Bentley,  wife  of  Jonathan  Townsend, 
Mary  Maria  Gibbs,  wife  of  John  Branning, 
Elizabeth  Taylor,  wife  of  Sheldon  W.   Wright, 
Emily  Eliza  Heath,  wife  of  Josiah  Royce, 
Candace  Ransom,  wife  of  O.  B.  Bid  well, 
Charlotte  E.  Howe. 

1852  Henry  Mansir, 

Adeline  Morgan,  his  wife, 
Nathan  Taylor, 
Adonijah  S.  Bid  well, 

1853  Jeannette  McKinley,  wife  of  John  H.  Langdon, 
Marshall  S.  Bidwell, 

Ann  Amelia  Tibballs,  his  wife. 
1855     Phebe  Langdon,  wife  of  Norton  Wright, 

Lucy  F.  Robinson,  wife  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Phelps, 

Harvey  Brewer, 

Maria  Partridge,  his  wife, 

Martha  Ann  Langdon,  wife  of  Daniel  Anderson, 

Roxanna  P.  Townsend,  wife  of  Wm.  Barnum, 

Phebe  Sophia  Bidwell,  wife  of  Deacon  Marshall  S.  Bidwell, 

Alice  C.  Bidwell,  wife  of  Marshall  S.  Bidwell, 


65 

Caroline  Jeannette  Chapin,  wife  of  John  C.  Harris, 

Mary  H.  Remlee,  wife  of  Moses  Walker, 

Louisa  A.  Harmon, 

Emily  J.  Wright,  wife  of  Benjamin  Wheeler, 

Josephine  L.  Orton  wife  of  James  Hicks, 

Candace  Jemima  Tyrrell,  wife  of  Frank  Seymour, 

Alnion  P.  Ticknor,  M.  D., 

Frances  C.  Catlin,  his  wife, 

Jonathan  Townsend, 

Artemas  Dowd, 

Prudence  C.  Freman,  his  wife. 

1856  Marietta  F.  Curtis,  wife  of  Cornish  Hitchcock, 
Ellen  M.  Chapman,  wife  of  W.  M.   Bentley, 
Angeline  Andrus,  wife  of  Reuben  C.  Underwood, 
Lucy  Butmell,  wife  of  Chas.  Farnham, 

Mary  Helen  Taylor,  wife  of  Dr.  Chas.  E.  Heath. 

1857  Betsy  Hale, 

Daphne  Ruff,  wife  of  Ransom  W.  Beach, 
Rhoda  Cornelia  Rowland, 
Frances  E.  Everett,  wnfe  of  Nathan  Taylor. 
1859     Margaret  Brown, 

Merrill  D.  Huggins, 
Almira  P.  Austin,  his  wife. 

1862  Camilla  Harmon,  wife  of  Wilbur  C.  Langdon, 
Laura  Brewer,  wife  of  Thomas  Miner, 
Theda  Ann  Miner, 

Fanny  Jane  Miner, 

Mary  P.  Townsend,  wife  of  John  C.  Taylor, 

Alice  C.  Townsend,  wife  of  Edward  J.  Curtis, 

Mary  E.   Bid  well, 

Sarah  Stebbins  Brewer,  wife  of  Amos  Langdon. 

1863  Eunice  Langdon,  wife  of  Lewis  Tyrell, 

Harriet  Chadwick  Mansir,  wife  of  Renssalaer  Couch, 

Sarah  Esther  Couch, 

Ann  Maria  Burger,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Hall, 

Margaret  Burger, 

James  G.  Dowd, 


66 

1864  Rachel  Scudder.  wife  of  Purnett  Bronson, 
Elizabeth  Walker,  wife  of  Jerome  Fargo, 

Lucy  Melinde  Thomson,  wife  of Wood, 

Frances  A.  Brewer,  wife  of  Martin  V.   Thomson, 
Mary  Elizabeth  Hewitt,  wife  of Bradman. 

1865  Caroline  C.  Patterson, 
Purnett  Bronson, 
Lewis  Tyrrell, 
Watson  S.  Bentley, 

Sarah  J.  Farnham,  wife  of  Charles  Gregory, 

Lucy  Ann  Wheeler,  wife  of  Daniel  Garfield, 

Frances  A.  Bentley,  wife  of  Edson  Bentley, 

Elizabeth  J.  Ty meson, 

Sarah  O'Brien,  wife  of  Solomon  Dowd, 

Mary  Camilla  Langdon,  wife  of  William  Cochran, 

Harriet  Elmina  Tyrrel,  wife  of Alderman, 

Alice  Sophia  Orton, 
Emma  J.  Townsend, 
Charles  Farnum. 

1866  Henry  Addison  Stedman, 
Wallace  W.  Hall, 
Gilbert}.   Bentley, 
Hannah  M.  Loom, 
Mary  Elizabeth  Taylor, 

•  Sarah  Louise  Tyrrell,  wife  of  John  P.  Stanley, 
Eugene  Alanson  Rogers, 
Huldah  A.  Higley, 
Andrew  Nelson  Higley, 
Beulah  C.  Orton,  wife  of  James  Hicks, 
Mary  Ann  Bigelow  Bidwell,  wife  of  Barnabas]  Bidwell, 
Dennis  Brewer. 

1867  Marshall  S.  Bidwell,  Jr., 

Ann  Merrilla,  wife  of  Ira  Johnson, 

Francis  Brochu. 

Anna  Brochu,  his  wife. 

1868  Joanna  Goewey,  wife  of  Erastus  Geowey, 
Daniel  Barnes  Andros, 


67 

Helen  IvOuise  Miner,  wife  of  Charles  Phelps, 
Maria  Bevins, 

Caroline  ,  wife  of  Cornish  Hitchcock, 

L,ydia  E.  Dowd, 
Mary  B.  Foster, 
Amelia  A.   Bidwell, 
Charles  Melvill  Clark, 
Isabel  Gray,  wife  of  Chester  Scudder, 
William  H,  Morse, 
Euphenia  H.  Morse,  his  wife. 
1869     Erastus  Goewey, 

Mary  Ann  Pomeroy, 

Jabez  Ward, 

Elizabeth  Ward,  his  wife, 

Sarah  E.  Miner, 

Mary  Hitchcock, 

Marilla  Thomson. 

1 87 1  Lyman  E.  Searle, 

Lucy  A.  Dowd,  wife  of  Albert  M.  Dowd. 

1872  Ella  I.  W.  Garfield,  wife  of  Alonzo  B.  Garfield, 
Frances  E.  H.,  wife  of  Fabius  Beckwith, 
Martha  E.  Colbert, 

Eli  Decker, 

Eva  Maria  Decker,  his  wife, 

Mary  J.  Dewey, 

Amaoda  Dewey, 

Nancy  K-  Hamm, 

John  C.  Hyde, 

Mary  Elizabeth  Laird,  his  wife, 

Mary  M.  Stedman, 

Helen  Louise  Townsend, 

Cyrus  Crosby, 

Amelia  Tibbals,  his  wife. 

1873  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Charles  Church, 
Octavia  E.  Colbert, 

Eliza,  wife  of  Samuel  Townsend, 
Henry  Woods, 


68 

Anna  E.,  his  wife. 

1874  Anna  M.  Searle. 

1875  Martin  V.  Thomson, 

Marion  E.,  wife  of  George  W.  Morse, 

Sarah  Louise  Bidwell,  wife  of  Edgar  Denton. 

Ellen  Gertrude  Crosb}^  wife  of  Elihu  D.  Harmon, 

John  B.  Morse, 

Norman  S.  Sears, 

Martin  W.  Twing, 

Lafayette  Battelle, 

Myron  L.  Thomson, 

Harriet  Thomson,  his  wife, 

Letta  Maria  Carrington, 

Margaretta  E.  Smith, 

Jessie  F.  Beckwith,  wife  of  Warren  May, 

Lois  Lucinda  Thomson, 

Ellen  Melinda  Thomson,  wife  of  Charles  Hastings, 

Wilbur  F.  Miner, 

Charles  Church. 

James  Kinney, 

William  Church,  . 

James  L.  Twing, 

Clifford  Brochu, 

Nellie  M.  Wood,  wife  of  Henry  Canfield, 

Herbert  DeLoss  Enoe, 

Abbie  L.  Sears,  wife  of  Jason  Lamson, 

Electa  M.  Brewer, 

Alfred  E.  Hall, 

William  A.  Hall. 

Fannie  E.  Hall,  his  wife, 

Eli  Bills, 

Harmony  Putnam,  his  wife, 

Caroline  Collins, 

Charles  C.  Gregory, 

Martha  J.  Battelle,  wife  of  Lafayette  Battelle. 

William  S.  Bidwell, 

Orlando  C.  Bidwell, 


69 

Charles  W.  Hart, 
Emma  J.  Pinney, 

Georgianna  A.  Hall,  wife  of Buckbee, 

Charles  H.  Twing, 

Ella  May  Brochu,  wife  of Bevens, 

Emmet  Goewey, 
Jason  lyarapson, 
Mary  E.  Pratt,  wife  of  Merrick  C.  Eangdon, 

Charlotte  Heath,  wife  of White, 

Oscar  T.  Stedman, 

Marrietta  Stedman,  his  wife, 

Henry  C.  Stedman, 

Ellen  Stedman,  his  wife, 

Jesse  A.  Twing, 

Rutus  W.  Barnum, 

Ida  M.  Perry,  wife  of  Henry  P.  Fargo, 

Elizabeth  L.  Harmon,  wife  of  George  T.  Miner, 

Mary  P.  Fargo,  wife  of  Rufus  Fargo, 

Harriet  I.  Rogers,  wife  of  O.  T.  Stedman, 

Arminta  V.  Langdon,  wife  of  Alfred  Hall, 

Harriet  E.  Hart,  wife  of  Charles  W.  Hart, 

Mary  Estella  Carrington,  wife  of  William  H.  Miner, 

Emma  Melissa  Brewer,  wife  of  William  Forrest, 

Harriet  R.  Carringtcn,  wife  of  B.  S.  Carrington, 

Betsy  Dunham. 

1876  Mary  M.  Miner,  wife  of  Wilbur  F.  Miner, 
Charles  S.  Church, 

Anna  Gilmore, 

Clarissa  R.  Tuft,  wife  of  Caleb  F.  Tuft, 

Porter  H.  Sears, 

Caroline  A.  Sears,  his  wife, 

Charlotte  J.  Kinney,  wife  of  James  A.  Kinney. 

1877  Rosella  Adelaide  Munson,  wife  of  James  L.  Twing, 
Mary  L.  Searle,  wife  of  Eyman  E.  Searle, 
Hattie  E-  Hart, 

Cora  J.  Webb,  wife  of  William  S.  Bidwell, 
Elizabeth  M.  Miner,  wife  of  Marshall  Stedman, 


70 

Jessie  A   Townsend, 

Hattie  May  Townsend,  wife  of  Julius  E.  Curtis, 
Charles  F.  Phelps. 
1878     Rev.  Alvin  E.  Todd, 

Gertrude  M.  Todd,  his  wife. 

1880  Mary  L.  Dowd,  wife  of  Charles  H.  Twing. 

1 88 1  Rev.  William  A.  Fobes, 
lyUcena  A.  Fobes,  his  wife. 
Ferry  Brouker, 

Mary  M.  Pease,  wife  of  Henry  W.  Langdon. 

1882  Bertha  Fobes. 

1883  Carrie  Fobes,  wife  of Baker, 

Albert  M.  Dowd, 

Edwin  Brayman, 
Clark  Phelps. 

1884  Augusta  C.  Sabin, 
Waldo  D.  Hadsell, 
George  L.  Keyes. 

1885  Emma  J.  Wheeler,  wife  of  Edwin  Busby, 
George  H.  Wheeler, 

Josephine  B.  Wheeler,  his  wife, 

Laura  Wheeler 

Mary  C.  Walker,  wife  of  George  L.  Keyes. 

Hiram  Fobes, 

Peter  Anthony, 

Martha  Anthony,  his  wife. 

1886  Catherine  A.  Benedict,  wife  of  Isaac  Benedict, 
Charlotte  E.  Dowd,  wife  of  Perle  Fenn, 
Jennie  S.  Thomson,  wife  of  Henry  Huntington, 
Florence  Webb,  wife  of  James  Webb, 

Julia  E.  Ward,  wife  of  Chas.   Whitney. 
Ellen  I.  Olmsted, 
James  Webb. 

1887  E.  Kitty  Fobes, 

Clara  L.  Bidwell,  wife  of  Chas.  H.  Warren. 
Emma  Purdy,  wife  of  Horace  Purdy. 

1888  Edwin  J.  Busby, 


71 

Julia  Cross,  wife  of Harrington. 

1889  Peter  del  Eskeldsen, 

Cora  Woods,  wife  of  John  Goodrich. 

1890  Lilian  M.  Mansir,  wife  of  Clifford  Brochu, 
Rev.  Augustus  Alvord, 

Emily  Alvord,  his  wife, 
Mabel  Alvord, 

1 89 1  Charles  Whitney, 
John  F.  Collins, 
James  L-  Anthony, 

Helena  Enoe,  wife  of  John  Enoe, 

1893  Rev.  Irving  A.  Burnap, 
Lizzie  Clark, 
Chatles  P.  Hyde, 
Alice  Elizabeth  Bills. 

1894  Ellen  Hall,  wife  of  Wallace  Hall, 
Ella  May  Smith, 

Nellie  Dowd,  wife  of  Philando  Harmon, 
Mary  Bell  Dowd,  wife  of  John  Burke. 

1896  Harriet  E.  Bid  well, 
Emma  B.  Fargo, 
Annie  I.  Twing. 
Edwin  Stoebner, 
Herbert  B.  Smith, 
Marietta  Smith,  his  wife, 

Maggie  Thomson,  wife  of  Charles  David, 
Henry  Wilbur  Miner, 
Edgar  L.  Woodford, 
Minnie  Woodford,  his  wife, 

1897  Andrew  J.  Hall, 

Minnie  M.  Gregory,  his  wife. 

1898  Eleanor  Cutler, 

Elizabeth  Cutler,  wife  of  Rev.  John  Dooljr 

Alexander  Rose  Dooly, 

Rev.  John  Dooly, 

Alice  B.C.  Dooly, 

Gertrude  Alice  Hart,  wife  of  J.  L.  Twing, 


72 

Clara  Eunice  Langdon. 
Sophia  Louise  Bidwell, 
Clara  M.  White,  wife  of  John  W.  Gregory. 

1899  Robert  J.  Goldberg, 
Hattie  E.  Goldberg,  his  wile. 

1900  George  B.  Edwards, 
Johanna  E.  Edwards,  his  wife, 

Lucy  May  Dowd,  wife  of  Edwin  Stoebner, 
Charles  Cooper  Griswold. 


THE  ANNIVERSARY, 


The  church  selected  as  Committee  of  Arrangements  Rev. 
John  Dooly,  Mrs.  Wilbur  Miner,  Miss  Mary  Stedman.  This 
committee  reported  to  the  church  on  x\ugust  26,  appointed  the 
following  committees,  to  perfect  the  plans  for  the  anniversary. 
Committee  on  Transportation,  Geo.  L.  Keyes,  Francis  G. 
Heath.  Committee  on  Entertainment  of  Visitors,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wm.  M.  Bidwell,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  M.  Langdon,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Andrew  J.  Hall.  Reception  committee,  Martin  V.  Thom- 
son and  Albert  Dowd.  Committee  for  the  care  of  Horses, 
I^afayette  Battell,  William  Maxwell,  James  Griswold.  Decora- 
tion of  Church,  the  Floral  Committee  of  the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E., 
assisted  by  Miss  Fannie  Robinson.  The  Ladies  Aid  Society  and 
the  Young  Ladies  Guild  to  provide  and  serve  the  dinner. 

The  Committee  of  the  Church  on  Music  were  to  provide  and 
conduct  the  musical  part  of  program. 

The  time  chosen  for  the  exercises  to  begin  was  Wednesday, 
October  10,  to  commence  at  2  P.  M.  and  continue  till  Thurs- 
day, 4  P.  M. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  was  accepted 
and  adopted. 

The  following  invitation  was  printed  and  mailed  to  over 
one  hundred  persons  who  in  former  years  had  some  affiliation 
with  the  church. 

1750  1900 

THE  FIRST  CONGREGATIONAL  SOCIETY, 

Monterey,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mash. 

September  6,  1900. 
Dear  Friend: 

With  the  close  of  this  month  one  hundred  and  fifty  years 
will  have  elapsed  since  the  forefathers  covenanted  together  in 


^6 

this  place  as  a  Church  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  thus  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  our  present  organization  by  which  during  all  this  period, 
the  Gospel  has  been  continuously  preached  and  God  has  been 
honored  by  an  obedient  people  seeking  to  do  His  will  in  teaching 
the  truth  of  Christ  Jesus  as  the  Saviour  ot  men.  It  has  appeared 
proper  to  us,  their  descendants  and  representatives,  that  an  occa- 
sion like  this  should  be  commemorated,  by  suitable  exercises^ 
The  Church  and  congregation  have  therefore  resolved  to  hold 
anniversary  services  on  October  loth  and  nth,  1900,  expressive 
of  gratitude  to  God  who  has  thus  graciouly  continued  to  us  the 
institutions  of  the  Gospel.  For  this  purpose  we  wish  to  summon 
together  from  near  and  far  our  friends  and  kindred  who  have  held, 
relations  with  us  as  Pastors  or  members  of  the  Church  or  congre- 
gation, or  the  descendants  of  such,  to  unite  with  us  in  a  social 
Christian  Reunion  and  a  season  of  religious  services  to  commem- 
orate this  event  which  awakens  in  our  hearts  grateful  emotions. 
Providence  permitting,  these  services  will  commence  at  2 
p.  m.  Wednesday,  October  loth,  and  continue  till  Thursday,  the 
nth,  at  4  p.  m.  Please  let  us  know  on  receipt  of  this,  if  you  can 
be  present;  if  you  cannot,  will  you  kindly  write  us  such  words  of 
Christian  greeting  as  will  be  suitable  to  read  in  these  services? 
Entertainment,  and  transportation  from  Great  Barrington,  Mass.,, 
will  be  provided  for  those  who  notify  us. 

Yours  very  respectfully, 

JOHN  DOOLY,  Pastor,      )        ^ ,.,.         . 

MRS.  WILBUR  MINER,  ^T"l^'lTJl 

MISS  MARY  STEDMAN,   S       Arrangements.. 


The  church  was  modestly  but  appropriately  decorated  for 
the  anniversary  event.  Over  the  pulpit  were  the  dates  "1750 
1900  ;"  back  of  the  desk  the  words,  "  Welcome  Home  ;"  on  the- 
left  of  the  pulpit,  the  inscription,  "  Thus  far  the  Lord  hath  led  us 
on,"  and  on  the  right,  "  Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds."  Festoons 
of  evergreen  extended  from  the  ceiling  center  in  several  directions 
and  similar  trimmings  were  used  about  the  chandelier  and  upon 
the  gallery  front.  Framed  in  evergreen,  on  the  wall  on  the  right 
and  left  of  the  pulpit,,  were  two  ancient  documents  connected. 


I  ^ 

>  w 
w  * 

IS 

V 


W  2 
o  to 


79 

with  the  organization  of  the  church  and  the  installation  of  its  first 
minister. 

There  were  also  many  very  choice  and  flowering  plants  on 
the  pulpit  and  choir  platforms.  The  decorations  spoke  well  for 
the  taste  shown  by  the  committee  in  charge  of  that  part  of  the 
work  for  the  occasion.  On  Sunday  the  Pastor  preached  the 
anniversary  sermon  as  follows  : 


ANNIVERSARY  SERMON. 

October  7,  igoo. 

Text — I  Kings,  8  :  57. 

"The  Lord  our  God  be  with  us  as  he  was  with  our  fathers 
let  him  not  leave  us  nor  forsake  us." 

These  words  are  part  of  the  blessing  on  Israel  which  Solo- 
mon pronounced  at  the  dedication  of  the  Temple. 

The  state  of  Israel  at  that  time  was  such  as  any  people 
would  greatly  desire.  The  kingdom  was  firmly  established,  its 
enemies  were  brought  into  subjection,  peace  prevailed  through- 
out all  their  borders.  The  king  reigning  in  righteousness  by 
virtue  of  God-given  wisdom  and  understanding,  brought  pros- 
perity and  blessing  to  the  land  so  that  silver  in  Jerusalem  was  as 
stones,  and  all  nations  sought  unto  Solomon  bringing  rich  and 
rare  gifts,  thus  showing  honor  not  only  to  him,  but  to  the  people 
over  whom  he  ruled.  The  temple  of  God,  so  greatly  desired  by 
David,  was  finished  and  was  magnificent  in  all  its  equipment. 
It  was  the  point  toward  which  the  devout  Hebrew,  wherever  he 
might  be,  would  turn  his  face  when  he  supplicated  the  God  of 
Israel.  Solomon,  in  looking  back  over  Israel's  past  history, 
was  able  to  say  :  I  Kings,  8,  56:^8 — 

"Blessed  be  the  Lord,  that  hath  given  rest  unto  his  people 
Israel,  according  to  all  that  he  promised  :  there  hath  not  failed 
one  word  of  all  his  good  promise,  which  he  promised  by  the  hand 
of  Moses  his  servant. 

"The  Lord  our  God  be  with  us,  as  he  was  with  our  fathers  : 
let  him  not  leave  us,  nor  forsake  us: 


8o 

"That  he  may  incline  our  hearts  unto  him,  to  walk  in  all 
his  wavs.  and  to  keep  his  commandments,  and  his  statutes,  and 
his  judgments,  which  he  commanded  our  fathers." 

We  are  standing  to-day  on  such  a  vantage  ground.  One 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  our  fathers  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
religious  privileges  we  now  enjoy.  These  privileges  are  very 
great.  We  have  a  comfortable  building,  the  third  erected  in  the 
history  of  the  church.  Itis  without  debt.  The  various  organiza- 
tions in  the  church,  viz.:  The  Fund  Society,  the  Meeting  House 
Society,  the  Missionary  Society,  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  and 
the  Young  Ladies"  Guild,  are  all  working  in  perfect  harmony 
while  doing  the  duty  assigned  to  each.  Our  Sabbath  School  of 
over  one  hundred  enrolled  members  and  our  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E. 
give  promise  to  us  of  being  the  sources  from  which  we  shall  add 
to  our  number  many  who  shall  be  saved.  We  are  at  peace 
among  ourselves  and  are  hopeful  of  the  future  because  of  God's 
past  dealing  with  us  as  part  of  his  Holy  church  during  the  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years  of  our  history. 

In  that  period  how  many  changes  have  come  to  nations  and 
peoples  throughout  the  world.  Great  crises  in  National  life  have 
produced  great  statesmen  and  wars  of  great  importance  have 
brought  forth  warriors  who,  perhaps  unknown  to  themselves, 
have  by  their  wisdom  and  bravery  perfected  the  righteous  pur- 
poses of  God  in  the  moulding  of  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Many 
great  rulers  have  lived  and  reigned  and  passed  away,  leaving  the 
impress  of  their  lives  upon  the  peoples  they  ruled.  In  this 
period  the  map  of  the  world  has  been  changed  and  much  of  the 
world's  advance  and  betterment  has  been  secured.  The  nations 
have  been  brought  closer  together.  Viewing  the  history  of  these 
many  and  great  changes,  we  may  well  say, 

"Oh,  where  are  kings  and  empires  now 

Of  old  that  went  and  came  ? 
But,  Lord,  thy  Church  is  praying  yet 

A  thousand  years  the  same. 
For  not  like  kingdoms  of  the  world, 

Thy  holy  Church,  O  God, 
Though  earthquake  shocks  are  threatening  her, 

And  tempests  are  abroad  ; 


8i 

Unshaken  as  the  eternal  hills, 

Immovable  she  stands, 
A  mountain  that  shall  fill  the  earth, 

A  house  not  made  with  hands." 

In  all  the  ages  the  church  of  God  has  been  the  witness  and 
defender  of  the  truth  as  well  as  the  power  by  which  man  has 
been  brought  more  fully  into  the  enjoyment  of  his  rights  and 
blessings.  Through  the  instrumentality  of  the  blessed  church  of 
God  much  of  the  world  has  during  the  past  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  been  evangelized,  and  thus  the  gospel  of  Christ  has 
won  great  triumphs,  and  advanced  with  marvelous  rapidity  and 
success  because  of  its  obedience  to  the  command  :  "Go  ye  into 
all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature."  The  re- 
sults are  seen  throughout  the  world  in  the  growth  of  general 
education,  the  increase  of  popular  governments,  the  gradual 
abolition  of  privileged  classes,  the  melting  away  of  old  super- 
stitions, the  general  amelioration  of  prisoners,  the  weak,  the 
helpless,  the  needy,  the  abolition  of  serfdom  and  slavery,  the 
scattering  of  God's  word  throughout  the  world,  so  that  each 
nation  can  read  in  its  own  tongue  the  purpose  and  provision  of 
God  for  man's  redemption.  Thus  by  the  power  of  the  gospel  the 
trend  of  the  world  to-day  is  toward  unity  and  brotherhood.  Thus 
much  for  the  world  in  general.  But  what  favorable  changes  have 
been  wrought  in  our  own  land  in  this  period  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years!  Changes,  chiefly  the  result  of  wars  ;  let  us  review 
their  history.  The  French  and  Indian  war  resulted  in  establish- 
ing English  supremacy  on  this  continent  as  well  as  proving  to 
be  a  school  in  which  the  Colonists  were  fitted  for  the  struggles 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  which  resulted  in  American  inde- 
pendence. The  war  of  i8i 2  established  the  rights  of  American 
citizens  on  land  and  sea,  and  gave  to  American  seamanship  a 
prominence  and  bravery  which  have  never  been  lost.  The  Mexi- 
can war  settled  long-standing  disputes  between  the  two  countries 
and  extended  our  boundaries  to  the  Rio  Grande  and  the  Pacific, 
thus  ceding  to  the  United  States  the  territory  now  known  as 
New  Mexico,  California.  Nevada,  Utah  and  Arizona.  The 
Civil  war  established  the  unity  of  the  republic  and  emancipated 


82 

3,000,000  slaves.  The  Spanish  and  American  war  by  which 
Cuba  was  released  from  Spanish  rule  and  Porto  Rico  and  the 
Philippine  Islands  ceded  to  the  United  States. 

Then  there  is  also  the  peaceful  cession  to  the  United  States 
of  the  Hawaiian  Islands.  In  each  one  of  these  wars  the  student 
of  history  will  discover  that  the  hand  of  Providence  was  guiding 
and  directing  the  fathers  for  the  perfecting  of  His  wise  plans 
through  the  agency  of  this  nation  ;  for  it  is  true  that  the  Ameri- 
can people,  while  enduring  the  hardship  of  these  wars,  expending 
their  blood  and  their  treasure,  amid  it  all  have  increased  in 
knowledge  and  power  and  are  to-day  the  greatest  contributors  to 
the  industrial,  educational  and  religious  progress  of  the  world. 
In  area  and  population  they  have  increased  with  an  extent  and 
rapidity  which  are  marvellous  to  the  world  at  large. 

The  thirteen  original  colonies  had  an  area  of  421,000  square 
miles  ;  population,  3,000,000.  To-day  the  area  is  3,764,308 
square  miles  ;  population,  (colonies  included)  about  88,000,000. 
But  let  us  take  a  glance  nearer  home.  In  1739  the  settle- 
ment of  this  section  begun.  The  Indians  had  only  recently 
deeded  their  rights  to  Colonels  Ephraim  Williams  and  Nahum 
Ward.  The  region  was  naturally  a  wilderness.  Four  years 
afterwards  (1743)  the  construction  of  the  first  church,  40x35  feet 
in  size,  was  begun,  but  owing  to  the  troublous  times  was  not 
completed  for  several  years.  Thus,  at  the  early  beginning  o 
this  settlement,  the  fathers  recognized  the  need  of  God's  house 
and  its  services,  and  provided  by  a  special  tax  upon  the  proprie- 
tors for  church  erection  and  the  support  of  the  gospel.  To  me 
there  is  something  very  pathetic  in  these  first  efforts,  the  troub- 
lous times,  the  hardship  of  the  new  settlements,  yet  still  they 
were  patient  and  faithful,  they  clung  to  their  purpose,  they  plan- 
ned and  labored  and  prayed,  until  1750.  In  that  year  the  pop- 
ulation of  New  England  was  only  354,000,  there  were  only  four 
churches  in  what  is  now  known  as  Berkshire  County,  viz  :  Shef- 
field and  Stockbridge,  organized  in  1735  ;  Great  Barrington, 
organized  in  1743;  New  Marlboro,  1744.  Jonathan  Edwards  in 
that  year  became  the  pastor  of  the  church  and  missionary  to  the 
Indians  at  Stockbridge.     The  population    of  this  section   must 


83 

have  been  very  sparse,  for  a  census  taken  fifteen  years  later  (1765) 
states  that  in  Tyringham  there  were  51  houses,  55  families,  335 
inhabitants.  Faithful  to  their  original  purpose  on  September 
25,  1750,  eight  persons  drew  up  after  careful  deliberation  the 
first  covenant  of  this  church. 

On  October  3,  the  same  year  (1750),  their  pastor,  Rev. 
Adonijah  Bidwell,  was  ordained  and  installed.  What  joy  must 
hifve  filled  their  hearts  when  on  that  day  those  eight  charter 
members  gathered  as  a  church  for  the  first  time  around  the  table 
of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  hands  of  one  of  their  number,  their  own 
beloved  pastor,  received  the  sacred  emblems  of  that  holy  sacra- 
ment. How  real  to  them  their  covenant  must  have  been,  how 
precious  the  word  and  promise  of  God  upon  which  they  had 
rested  in  those  years  of  peril  and  trial.  Doubtless  they  had  then 
prayed,  "Forsake  us  not,  nor  leave  us,  Oh  thou  mighty  God.'" 
In  answer,  at  that  table,  they  must  have  realized  the  presence  of 
God  as  by  His  holy  spirit  they  called  to  remembrance  his  precious 
promise,  "I  will  not  fail  thee  nor  forsake  thee."  As  with  Israel, 
God  has  kept  His  word  with  them.  Not  one  good  thing  hath 
failed  of  all  that  He  hath  promised.  Our  presence  here  to-day  is 
visible  proof  of  this.  Oh,  if  they  could  have  had  a  vision  of  the 
years  to  come,  the  repeated  and  glad  times  of  revival,  the  dark 
times  in  the  years  of  the  second  house  at  the  Old  Centre,  when 
the  existence  of  the  church  seemed  to  be  jeopardized,  the  heroic 
days  when  the  faithful  remnant  stood  for  the  welfare  of  their  be- 
loved Zion,  and  from  their  scant  supply  gave  to  the  fund  of  their 
means,  thus  providing  for  future  emergencies.  If  they  could 
have  seen  the  eight  hundred  and  sixty  souls  which  during  these 
past  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  have  been  gathered  into  the 
fellowship  of  the  church  they  then  founded  ;  if  in  vision  they 
could  have  seen  the  holy  lives  of  their  successors  ;  if  they  could 
have  seen  the  children,  and  childrens'  children  consecrated  to 
God  in  holy  baptism  at  the  altar  they  reared  ;  if  they  could  have 
seen  the  widening  influence  of  these  lives  after  they  left  the  small 
limits  of  their  mountain  homes  and  stepped  out  for  their  )ife  work 
into  the  greater  outside  world.  Some  have  gone  to  foreign 
lands,  some  have  preached  the  gospel,  some  have  strengthened 


84 

Other  churches  by  their  fidelity  in  service.  I  knew  one  in  city 
mission  work  in  New  York  City,  a  godly  woman  who  yearned 
over  the  needs  of  the  Italian  women  ;  who  studied  their  lan- 
guage, became  their  guide  to  Christ,  their  trusted  friend  and 
counselor.  When  God  called  this  woman  home  to  Him  those 
women  to  whom  she  had  ministered  were  heart-broken  and 
crushed.  They  not  only  brought  flowers  to  her  coffin,  but  they 
also  bedewed  it  with  their  tears.  Brethren,  if  they  could  have 
seen  in  vision  these  things,  could  they  have  lived  and  finished 
their  work?  Though  we  have  not  the  full  record  of  the  noble, 
godly  deeds  of  these  fathers,  much  of  what  they  have  done  is 
real,  not  vision,  and  the  fruits  of  their  labors  are  ours  to  profit 
by  to-day.  May  we  be  stimulated  by  what  they  have  done  to 
holy  living  and  earnest  effort  to  honor  God  in  our  day  as  they 
did  in  their  day  and  generation.  Shall  we  do  it  ?  Our  text  is  a 
prayer  which  each  one  of  us  ma}-  make  personal:  "The  Lord 
our  God  be  with  us  as  He  was  with  our  fathers,  let  him  not  leave 
us,  nor  forsake  us." 

The  text  is  also  a  holy  wish,  a  fervent  desire,  that  the  prayer 
may  be  answered,  that  the  wish  may  be  a  realization,  that  the 
desire  may  be  fulfilled.  Let  us  consider  wherein  we  may  learn 
from  them  the  seat  of  their  power,  and  success  in  their  work  for 
God. 

I.  They  had  a  zeal  for  the  cause  of  God.  The  longing  of 
their  soul  was  expressed  by  the  Psalmist — 84:1-2.  "How- 
amiable  are  thy  tabernacles,  O  Lord  of  hosts  ! 

"  My  soul  longeth,  yea,  even  fainteth,  for  the  courts  of  the 
Lord  :  my  heart  and  my  flesh  crieth  out  for  the  living  God. " 

"  The  zeal  of  thy  hovise  hath  eaten  me  up."  Under  the 
promptings  of  this  zeal  they  were  made  strong  for  the  hard  work 
of  hewing  from  the  forests  the  timbers  for  their  first  house  of  wor- 
ship, by  this  zeal  they  were  sustained  in  simple  trust  in  God  dur- 
ing the  long  delay  of  years  in  its  completion.  There  were  then 
no  boards  to  whom  they  could  appeal  for  help. .  The  whole 
burden  fell  on  them  and  putting  on  zeal  as  a  mantle  they  were 
equal  to  the  demands  of  the  times  and  God  gave  them  joy  in  their 
work    for    Him.     How    different    this  from    the    beginnings    of 


85 

churches  in  our  new  settlements  to-day.  The  land  was  virgin 
soil,  rich  but  not  for  God.  Precious  metals  abounded  causing 
towns  to  spring  up  in  a  day,  plenty  of  gold,  silver  and  copper,  but 
self  is  first.  Were  it  not  for  the  wise  provision  made  by  the 
churches  through  their  boards  many  of  our  western  towns  would 
be  without  the  house  of  God  to-day. 

II.  They  were  loyal  to  their  pastors.  It  is  a  significant  fact 
that  the  first  three  pastorates  represent  72  years  of  pastoral  work 
and  counting  the  eight  years  of  supply  between  the  pastorates  it 
is  80  years,  over  half  the  period  of  the  history  of  the  church.  In 
that  time  449  persons  united  with  the  chuich.  Those  were  not 
the  days  of  unrest  among  the  pastors,  nor  of  change  among  the 
churches.  The  rich  blessings  of  those  early  years  are  the  tokens 
of  God's  approval  of  fidelity  in  the  pastorate  and  loyalty  in  the 
people. 

III.  They  manifested  the  spirit  of  God's  word  in  their  gifts. 
They  first  gave  themselves  to  the  Lord.  The  provision  for  taxa- 
tion of  the  proprietors  for  the  church  was  equitable  in  that  day. 
The  town  was  the  church,  the  church  was  the  town.  They  were 
thoughtful  about  future  needs.  Very  early  in  their  history  is  the 
record  of  a  church  vote  that  each  should  pay  nine  pence  each  year 
that  suitable  provision  in  advance  should  be  made  for  the  expenses 
of  the  Lord's  supper.  This  doubtless  is  the  origin  of  your  pres- 
ent custom  to  provide  for  these  expenses  at  the  annual  meeting. 

This  thoughtfulness  has  prompted  the  organization  of  the 
Fund  Society,  and  doubtless  has  been  to  their  successors  the 
motive  by  which  the  church  has  been  self-supporting  from  its 
beginning. 

IV.  They  had  the  expectation  and  prayed  tor  revivals  of 
religion.  They  thus  recognized  a  vital  principle  of  church  growth, 
viz:  that  the  church  makes  her  great  advances  and  accomplishes 
her  most  glorious  conquest  of  souls  by  revivals  of  religion.  Rev.  J. 
Warren  Dowe  in  his  farewell  sermon,  1831,  at  the  end  of  a  20 
years  pastorate,  says  in  speaking  of  the  fact  of  frequent  revivals 
of  religion  :  ' '  What  means  the  successive  revivals  of  religion 
with  which  the  church  has  been  blessed?  What  means  the 
aggregate  of  449  persons  who  have  belonged  to  the  church  since 


86 

its  formation  ?  It  means  that  the  divine  blessing  has  attended 
and  followed  their  united  exertions.  It  means  that  these  persons 
have  been  principally  the  fruits  of  these  revivals.  The  enlarge* 
ment  and  growth  of  the  church  has  been  secured  by  frequent 
revivals  of  rel  igion . ' ' 

V.  Prosperity  in  all  needful  things  was  theirs  in  keeping  with 
God's  promise.  Matthew  VI:33.  '  But  seek  ye  first  the  kingdom 
of  God,  and  his  righteousness  ;  and  all  these  things  shall  be  add- 
ed unto  you." 

The  large  mansions  and  barns  which  once  flourished  here 
are  evidence  of  this.  The  climate  in  the  early  days  was  as  sev^ere 
as  now,  the  soil  though  new  and  full  of  virgin  fertilitj-  was  cov- 
ered with  dense  forests  and  the  extensive  stone  walls  which  mark 
our  landscape  attest  that  the  surface  was  rough  and  stony.  But 
hearts  loyal  to  God  strengthened  them  for  their  work  and  their 
self-denial,  and  their  toil  was  well  rewarded  with  prosperity. 

The  Lord  was  with  them  ;  the  Lord  did  not  leave  them  nor 
forsake  them.  He  blessed  them  and  it  is  because  of  that  blessing 
we  celebrate  this  150th  anniversary  as  a  Church  of  God.  Shall 
we  not  here  and  now  renew  our  covenant,  equip  ourselves  for  our 
work  and  as  the  new  era  on  which  we  enter  is  near  the  opening 
of  a  new  century,  let  us  strive,  let  us  pray  that  our  zeal  may  be 
astheir's,  fer\'id  and  full  of  power,  that  our  loyalty  to  our  pastor 
shall  be  as  their's  and  that  this  loyalty  shall  inspire  each  pastor 
in  all  the  future  history  with  fiHelity  and  love  for  souls.  So  let 
us  give  of  our  means  not  grudgingly  but  willingly,  yea  joyfully, 
as  they  did  that  there  may  never  be  a  lack  for  God's  work.  Let 
us  seek  to  be  a  Church  of  Revivals,  not  of  spasmodic  efforts  pro- 
ducing undue  excitement,  but  ever  waiting  on  God  for  His 
presence  in  power,  humbling  our  souls  in  deep  travail  of  spirit 
that  those  among  us  may  be  saved.  Let  us  carry  this  desire  with 
us  into  our  public  worship,  into  the  closet  of  secret  prayer,  into 
the  family  worship  and  rest  not  until  we  receive  and  rejoice  in 
rich  reviving  from  the  hand  of  our  God,  who  is  with  us  as  He  was 
with  the  fathers.  The  result  shall  be  that  this  shall  be  a  Church 
of  God,  doing  His  will,  and  the  blessing  of  prosperity  in  all  need- 
ful things  shall  come  to  us   as  to  them,  for  God's  presence  shall 


87 

be  to  us  jOy  and  strength  in  all  future  service.  May  He  keep  us 
for  Himself.  (Kings  VIII.  58):  "That  He  may  incline  our 
hearts  unto  Him,  to  walk  in  all  His  ways,  and  to  keep  His  com- 
mandments, and  His  statutes,  and  His  judgments,  which  He 
commanded  our  fathers." 


Wednesday  morning  the  loth  was  rainy  but  this  did  not 
interfere  with  the  exercises  or  the  attendance.  The  teams  so 
carefully  chosen  by  the  committee  on  transportation  brought  the 
people  up  from  the  trains  in  accordance  with  previous  notice,  and 
the  local  membership  and  friends  from  the  neighboring  towns 
were  present  in  good  numbers. 

The  following  program  was  obser\^ed: 

The  committee  on  music  rendered  excellent  service,  espec- 
ially in  securing  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Orlando  Bidwell  of  Great 
Barrington,  who  very  tenderly  sung  some  inspiring  and  heart 
touching  solos. 

WEDNESDAY   AFTERNOON,  OCTOBER   lO. 

Led  by  Rev.  Herbert  K.  Job. 
2:00-2:30 — Prayer  and  Thanksgiving. 

2:30-2:45 — Address  of  Welcome,  Rev.  John  Dooly,  Pastor. 

—Singing. 
2.45 — Addresses  by  former  Pastors,   Members  and  Friends. 
— Reading  of  Letters. 
—  Historical  Reminiscences. 
4:00 — Singing.     Dismission. 

WEDNESDAY    EVENING. 

7:00-7:45 — Reunion  Reception  in  the  Church  Parlors. 
— Evening  Session  in  the  Church, 

Led  by  Rev.  Augustus  Alvord. 
7:45-8:00 — Song  Service. 

8:00-9:00 — Reading    of    Letters    and    Reminiscences   of  former 
years. 
— Singing.      Dismission. 


THURSDAY  MORNING,  OCTOBER   II. 

10:00-10:15 — Devotional. 
10: 15-10:45 — Historical  Reminiscences. 
— Reading  of  Letters. 
—Singing. 
10:45-11:20 — Address.     Subject:  The     Bible     School     in     the 
Country  Church, 
Rev.  Evarts  W.  Pond,  Sheffield,  Mass. 
1 1:20-1 1:25 — Singing. 

11:25-12:00 — Address.     Subject:     The     Country     Church,     Its 
Opportunity  for  Service, 
Rev.  W.  W.  Curtis,  West  Stockbridge,  Mass. 
12:00 — Reading    of    an    Original    Poem.     Subject:     The 
Women  of  the  Church. 

By  Miss  HelSn  Townsend. 
12:30 — Adjournment  for  Dinner  in  Church  Parlor. 

THURSDAY    AFTERNOON. 

Led  by  Rev.  Silas  P.  Cook,  County  Minister. 
2:00-  2:15 — Singing  and  Prayer. 

2:15-  3:00 — Address  by  Rev.  Joshua  Coit,  Secretary   Massa- 
chusetts Home  Mtssionary  Society. 
—Singing. 
3:00 — Sermon,  Rev.  Wm.  V.  W.  Davis,  Pittsfield,  Mass. 

— The  Lord's  Supper. 
4:00 — Singing.     Dismission. 

ADDRESS    OF    WELCOME. 

The  Pastor's  address  of  welcome  was  as  follows  : 
My  Dear  Friends  :  I  cannot  address  you  by  any  other  name, 
for  we  are  friends  in  Christ  Jesus,  our  Lord,  who  hath  called  us 
His  friends,  and  has  made  us  one  in  Him.  In  His  name  we  bid 
you  welcome.  vSome  of  you  have  already  received  your  welcome 
by  the  words,  "Welcome  Home."  Your  homes  were  formerly 
here.  Among  this  people  you  first  entered  into  the  covenant  of 
Christian  fellowship.  To  you  this  is  a  home-coming  and  we  bid 
you  an  especial  welcome  to  the  firesides  and  fellowships  you 
enjoyed  in  the  former  years.     We  trust  that  to  you  this  home- 


89 

coming  shall  abound  in  pleasant  memories  and  a  present  joy  in 
the  exercises  of  this  one  hundredth  and  fiftieth  anniversary.  We 
also  hope  that  you  may  gain  a  greater  love  for  the  old  church  and 
a  purpose  to  remember  in  prayer  at  your  home  altars  the  little 
band  who  are  still  the  loyal  representatives  of  the  Gospel  in 
Monterey.  If  you  are  permitted  to  speak  a  word  for  us,  let  it  be 
a  strong  word,  and,  if  occasion  should  offer  in  the  future  for  you 
to  help  make  more  permanent  the  work  of  the  church,  may  you 
not  be  found  wanting.  Some  of  you,  dear  friends,  are  strangers 
and  visitors  among  us.  You  have  come  to  join  in  the  anniver- 
sary of  150  years  of  church  life.  Most  heartily  do  we  bid  you 
welcome;  we  extend  to  you  the  freedom  of  our  church,  our 
homes,  and  the  liberty  of  our  hill  town. 

We  are  a  simple  people,  but  we  are  happy  that  you  have  come 
among  us  ;  may  you  enjoy  our  fellowship  and  the  autumna 
beauty  of  our  forest  hillsides,  may  your  presence  and  your  words 
prove  to  be  an  inspiration  to  us  in  the  work  that  God  has  given 
us  to  do.  We  shall  entertain  you  as  well  as  we  are  able.  Please 
feel  at  home  with  us,  and  be  free  in  taking  part  in  these  services. 
The  program  outlines  the  plan  of  the  exercises.  It  will  be  nec- 
essary to  be  prompt  and  brief  that  all  may  be  heard.  The  history 
of  the  church,  the  anniversary  sermon,  remarks  and  extracts  from 
letters  will  soon  be  in  print.  Doubtless  the  reading  of  this  history 
will  deepen  impressions  received  in  these  services.  In  closing,  let 
me  refer  to  four  epochs  of  our  church  history  :  The  period  of 
the  beginning,  1750 — the  foundation  was  then  laid  deep  and 
strong  ;  the  period  of  peril  and  loyalty,  1808-1809 — in  this  period 
the  church  was  threatened  with  destruction,  but  loyal  hearts, 
willing  to  deny  self  for  the  Gospel's  sake,  rallied  for  the  emer- 
gency and  organized  the  Fund  Society  by  an  act  of  incorporation 
dated  June  16,  1809,  and  thus  made  provision  for  the  future  good 
of  the  church;  the  period  of  the  recognition  of  the  children,  1820 
— then  the  Sabbath  school  was  organized  and  sought  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  children  in  righteousness  ;  the  period  of  the  young 
people,  1883,  when  early  in  the  Christian  Endeavor  movement 
this  church  came  into  line  for  the  purpose  of  special  effort  to  band 
together  the  young  people  for  Christ  and   His  church.      May  we 


90 

to-day  enter  on  a  new  period  in  which,  profiting  by  the  history  of 
the  past  150  years,  we  shall  all  be  drawn  closer  together  in  work 
for  God.  May  each  one  of  us  by  these  exercises  be  confirmed  in 
the  faith,  be  renewed  in  strength,  and  be  thus  led  into  the 
fuller  assurance  that  when  we  have  finished  the  work  given  us  as 
faithfully  as  the  fathers  and  mothers  of  the  past  performed  their 
work,  we  shall  be  brought  together  with  them  to  be  forever  in  the 
presence  of  the  Lord. 

WEDNESDAY  EVENING  EXERCISES. 
The  evening  exercises  were  preceded  by  a  reunion  reception 
in  the  church  parlors,  concerning  which  it  is  only  necessary  to 
say  that  it  proved  a  very  happy  one  in  the  way  of  cordial  greeting 
from  friend  to  friend  and  especially  in  the  opportunity  that  was 
afforded  of  welcoming  those  whose  faces  to  some  extent  had  lost 
their  familiarity  because  of  absence.  This  was  followed  by  a 
prayer  and  song  service  in  the  early  part  of  which  a  welcome 
poem  by  Mrs.  Wilbur  Miner,  for  nearly  25  years  a  member  of 
the  church,  was  read  by  Miss  Harriet  Bidwell  as  follows: 

WELCOME. 

Welcome  to  our  many  friends, 

Who  here  to-day  their  presence  lend. 
And  help  us  to  commemorate 

This  church  of  very  ancient  date. 

A  century  and  a-half  have  passed, 

The  story  comes  to  us,  at  last. 
Since  a  band  of  eight,  so  firmly  bound. 

Determined  here  a  church  they'd  found. 

On  yonder  hill  they  chose  the  spot, 

Methinks  the  secret  of  this  plot. 
The  winds,  no  discord  did  the}-  make. 

Like  the  bass  viols  of  ancient  date. 

But  discord  surely  did  arise, 

'Twas  from  within  you  well  surmise. 
The  church  must  go  from  that  cold  spot. 

And  this  the  blessing  that  we  got. 


91 

Right  on  this  spot  for  you  and  I , 

Our  fathers  built  that  we  still  try 
To  keep  the  name  of  Jesus  bright  ; 

And  lead  poor  sinners  to  the  light. 

Friends,  don't  look  around  in  such  dismay, 

For  loved  ones  who  for  j^ou  did  pray. 
The  golden  gate  has  opened  wide, 

Jesus  hath  called  them  from  our  side. 

Two  of  our  number  who  had  planned 

To  join  this  anniversary  band 
Were  called  to  join  the  heavenly  throng  ; 

We  trust  they '  re  here  to-day ,  though  not  in  form . 

Prosperity  attends  us  still, 

And  with  God's  help  we  know  it  will; 

Decay  and  death  await  us  all, 
But  Jesus  welcomes  all  who  call. 

The  rock  on  which  our  fathers  built 
Was  faith,  strong  as  adamantine  hilt. 

And  as  that  generation  passed , 

The  message  came,  "  hold  fast,  hold  fast." 

And  so  you  find  us  here  to-day, 

Blessed  with  a  church  in  which  we  pray. 

We're  holding  fast  though  few  in  number. 
Faith  binds  us  strong,  we  cannot  sunder. 

May  Jesus  now  His  love  bestow 

On  all  who  from  this  church  may  go. 
And  as  your  part  in  life  do  take 

This  church  of  old  pray  don't  forsake. 

We  wish  it  were  possible  for  us  to  print  all  the  good  things 
which  were  said  Wednesday  afternoon  and  evening.  We  are 
enabled,  through  the  courtesy  of  the  Berkshire  Courier,  to  give 
brief  sketches  of  some  of  the  addresses  Thursday: 

Rev.  Evarts  W.  Pond  of  Sheffield  delivered  a  very  practical 
address  on  "The  Bible  School  in  the  Country  Church."     Mr. 


92 

Pond's  talk  consisted  principally  of  the  telling  of  personal  exper- 
iences and  the  summing  up  of  results  of  special  efforts  made  in 
his  own  church.  He  mentioned  as  the  first  consideration  of  an 
ideal  school  its  proper  grading,  and  as  another  consideration 
specific  and  effective  study,  contrasting  the  results  of  such  with 
those  of  what  may  be  characterized  as  the  usual  scrappy  round- 
and-round  method  common  to  ordinary  Sunday  school  work.  He 
had  made  an  effort,  he  said,  to  impress  upon  the  scholars  in  his 
Sunday  school  the  thought  that  it  was  a  school  in  fact,  realizing, 
when  effort  was  begun,  that  requiring  the  most  thorough  study 
would  at  first  lessen  the  attendance,  but  adherance  of  the  policy 
had  demonstrated  that,  quality  being  maintained,  quantity  will 
take  care  of  it.self. 

Another  address  of  the  morning  that  was  of  intensely  practi- 
cal and  encouraging  character  was  on  "  The  Country  Church  ; 
Its  Opportunities  for  Service."  The  speaker  was  Rev.  W.  W. 
Curtiss  of  West  Stockbridge,  who  spoke  in  a  very  genial  as  well 
as  earnest  way,  mingling  humor  with  sensible  suggestions.  He 
said  it  was  a  privilege  to  turn  one's  thoughts  away,  for  the  time 
being,  from  the  difficulties  and  burdens  of  the  country  church  for 
the  purpose  of  viewing  its  opportunities.  He  mentioned  as  one 
of  the  chief  of  these  the  services  that  it  may  render  in  ministering 
to  others  stronger  than  itself.  He  compared  it  to  the  parent  who 
rears  his  children  with  no  thought  of  sending  them  into  fields  dis- 
tant from  his  own,  but  who  yet  does  fit  them  to  occupy  those 
fields  to  the  best  purpose.  The  country  church  in  like  manner  so 
developes  its  young  manhood  and  young  womanhood  that  they  go 
forth  to  renew,  rebuild  and  re-energize  the  churches  of  the  large 
cities.  Just  as  the  country  feeds  the  cities,  supplies  them  with 
water,  sends  new  blood  to  take  the  place  of  that  enfeebled  by  their 
strenuous  life,  so  it  furnishes  the  city  church  with  the  rank  and 
file  of  its  membership  and  with  its  preachers.  He  quoted 
Professor  Wright  of  Oberlin  as  having  said  that  it  is  doubtful 
if  any  large  city  church  could  maintain  its  existence  for  two 
generations  without  replenishment  from  the  country. 

The  Congregational  Year  Book  for  1898  showed  that  the 
accessions  to  the  churches  of  Springfield,   Boston,   Pittsfield  and 


93 

other  cities  were  four  or  more  by  letter  to  one  on  profession  of 
faith,  while  on  the  other  hand,  the  accessions  to  the  Congrega- 
tional churches  of  South  Berkshire  —  all  of  them  country 
churches — had  in  that  year  been  6i  by  profession  of  faith  and 
only  seven  by  letter. 

Another  great  opportunity  of  the  country  churches  is  that 
of  developing  the  social  and  intellectual  life  of  the  rural  neigh- 
borhood. Its  opportunity  is  great  on  account  of  the  fewness  of 
the  members  and  their  intimacy  of  acquaintance.  The  country 
church  has,  he  said,  exclusive  privileges  and  it  ought,  if  possible, 
to  provide  the  best  preaching,  most  stately  service,  and  the  most 
attractive  architecture.  Great  also,  in  his  opinion,  is  its  oppor- 
tunity in  a  spiritual  way.  Two-thirds  of  the  people  still  live  in 
the  country.  If  the  millions  of  our  population  are  to  be  reached, 
they  must  be  reached  by  the  country  church  ;  if  degeneracy 
comes  to  the  country  it  will  certainly  go  to  the  city,  therefore  he 
would  plead  strongly  that  the  country  be  kept  spiritualized. 

Preceding  the  benediction,  the  exercises  of  Thursday  morn- 
ing closed  with  some  original  verses  entitled  ' '  The  Women  of 
the  Church,"  written  by  Miss  Helen  Townsend,  whose  duties  as 
a  teacher  at  Hampton  Institute  denied  her  the  privilege  of  being 
present.  The  verses  were  read  by  her  sister,  Miss  Jessie  Town- 
send. 

THE  WOMEN  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

Written  by  Helen  Townsend,  a  Teacher  at  Hampton  Institute, 
AND  Read  by  Her  Sister  at  the  Sesoui-centennial  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Monterey. 

Thank  God,  the  men  were  godly  men 

Who  hither  came  to  dwell 
Upon  these  fine  old  Berkshire  hills 

Which  we  all  love  so  well; 
True,  it  required  brave,  stoat  hearts 

To  come  and  live  here  then; 
Mayhap  they  were  not  far-famed  saints 

But  plain  God-fearing  men. 


94 

We  learn  that  a  place  to  worship  God 

Was  in  their  earliest  plan; 
A  meeting  house  was  accounted  for 

Before  a  house  for  man, 
A  sacred  Sabbath  must  be  observed 

In  Puritanic  style; 
They  deemed  that  in  the  house  of  God 

'Twas  meet  to  spend  a  while. 
Their  Christian  spirit  was  displayed 

In  purchasing  their  land 
And  missionary  labor  spent 

On  Stockbridge  Indian  band. 
'Twas  good  John  Sargeant  told  them  how 

God's  love  to  man  extends. 
The  Indians  heard,  believed  the  word 

And  proved  the  white  man's  friends. 

We  think  of  quiet,  wooded  hills, 

With  bridle  path  and  Indian  trail; 
No  roads  for  wagon  or  ox-cart 

While  wild  beast  roamed  o'er  hill  and  dale. 
At  last  a  road  was  cleared,  I'm  told, 

So  travelers  from  the  east 
Could  wend  their  way  to  Albany 

In  safety,  to  say  the  least. 
We  now  would  think  it  rude  and  rough, 

This  first  of  our  highways. 
But  captured  Burgoyne's  army  passed 

Adown  this  road  in  later  days. 

The  place  became  South  Tyringham; 

Settled  in  seventeen -thirty-nine; 
The  mills  were  built  and  work  begun 

In  those  far  days  of  old  lang  syne. 
A  second  road  went  over  the  hills, 

Its  course  ran  north,  'tis  said. 
And  by  this  road  majestic  and  grand 

A  giant  hemlock  reared  its  head. 


95 

And  on  it  was  written  in  letters  rude 
"R.  H."  for  road  to  Hop  Brook. 

A  traveler  passing,  these  letters  saw 

And  their  hidden  meaning  mistook 
"R.  H.  for  Royal  Hemlock  stands," 

And  he  gathered  up  his  load, 
And  ever  after  this  highway  was  called 

The  "Royal  Hemlock  road." 
It  now  can  be  traced,  so  we're  informed, 

By  the  one  whom  this  story  tells; 
It  passes  north  right  over  the  hills 

Past  where  Neighbor  Carrington  dwells. 

'Twas  by  this  road  our  church  fathers  found 

A  sight  for  their  meeting-house  meet. 
High  on  the  hillside  looking  down 

At  the  town  that  lay  at  its  feet. 
We've  climbed  that  hillside,  we've  sat  us  down 

By  those  stones  that  were  once  by  its  door 
And  we've  dreamed  of  those  people  who  wore  them  smooth 

In  those  distant  days  of  yore. 
They  were  Congregational  as  a  whole, 

And  in  that  faith  true-hearted. 
In  seventeen-fifty  a  pastor  came 

And  a  church  was  truly  started. 
There  were  eight  men  signed  that  compact  strong 

That  they  would  united  stand, 
As  followers  of  Christ  to  spread 

His  kingdom  in  the  land. 
They  signed,  and  their  names  can  be  clearly  read 

As  if  they  were  written  to  stay; 
We  read  them  again;  only  one  of  those  names 

Can  be  found  in  our  town  to-day. 
We  scan  the  page  closely  for  women's  names— 

Where  are  the  wives  of  those  men? 
To-day  they'd  be  found  in  the  self-same  list, 

It  was  not  thought  the  proper  way  then, 


96 

But  after  the  business  had  all  been  done 

(In  this  was  where  they  were  wary) 
You  wonder  what  woman's  name  stands  first — 

'Tisthe  sainted  name  of  Mary, 
And  after  that  they  crowd  thickly  in — 

There's  Abigail,  Mercy,   Belinda, 
Patience,  Tryphena,  Hepziba,  Ruth, 

Theodosia,  Leah,   Lucinda; 
There's  Hannah  and  Rhoda,   Phoebe,   Keziah, 

With  Hulda  to  make  the  rank  full; 
Eunice  and  Esther,  Rebecca,  Sophia, 

So  on  to  Submit  and  be  Thankful. 

'Twas  nearing  the  close  of  the  following  year 

That  they  numbered  nine  out  of  twenty. 
And  as  we  follow  the  roll  year  by  year 

Of  women's  names  there  are  plenty, 
They  brought  their  babies  and  children  small 

For  the  sacred  baptismal  rite, 
'Till  the  church  was  o'ercrowded  and  much  too  small, 

So  finding  themselves  in  such  a  plight 
They  builded  a  second  meeting-house,  * 

Not  more  than  a-half  a  mile  away. 
In  which,  for  more  than  fifty  years. 

They  met  on  each  Sabbath  day. 
Again  when  the  town  was  made  into  two, 

Our  part  being  called  Monterey, 
This  land  was  bought  and  a  church  was  built 

Where  we  hold  our  meeting  to-day. 
So,  through  all  these  years  on  the  Sabbath  Day, 

Be  it  cold  or  extremely  heating, 
A  service's  been  held  b}^  a  pastor,  they  say. 

Or  there's  been  a  deacons'  meeting. 
But  what  have  the  women  done,  you  imagine. 

Besides  having  their  names  on  the  roll; 
They've  battled  the  wrong  and  stood  for  the  right 

With  purpose  and  self-control. 


97 

It  was  when  the  Fund  was  first  organized 

To  help  sustain  Christian  preaching, 
They  came  to  the  front,  as  has  since  been  their  wont 

And  their  influence  soon  was  far-reaching; 
Even  hired  girls,  whose  wages  were  small. 

In  giving  would  tkae  their  turn, 
It  was  not  rare  they  would  pledge  a  share 

That  would  take  them  months  to  earn. 

Nor  did  England's  war  with  the  colonies 

The  Berkshire  women  affright, 
They  despised  strongmen,  who  didn't  go  then 

To  fight  for  their  country's  right. 
They  did  in  the  fields  the  work  of  the  men, 

And  when  they  could  do  no  more. 
They  would  steal  away  at  the  close  of  day, 

And  the  God  of  Armies  implore. 

And  so  it  has  ever  been  the  case 

That  for  liberty  they  have  always  stood  true 
As  loyal  a  band  as  there  is  in  the  land 

To  protect  the  red,  white  and  blue. 
When  the  civil  war  came  and  soldiers  were  called 

They  sent  their  husbands  and  brothers 
And  sweetheart  and  friend,  none  too  good  to  send, 

So  thought  the  sorrowing  mothers. 

And  then  came  the  time  they  worked  early  and  late 

Filling  boxes  and  barrels  here  in  the  north. 
And  then  the  things  flew  to  the  boys  in  blue 

Ere  they  to  battle  should  go  forth; 
I  remember  the  anxious  faces  and  sad 

As  I  sat  in  my  little  chair, 
Picking  lint  with  a  pin,  their  praises  to  win. 

Still  too  young  to  realize  their  care. 
'Twasthe  I^adies'  Sewing  Society  then, 

And  some  garments  were  stained  by  a  tear 
As  they  sent  them  adrift,  on  their  mission  swift 

Some  far-away  heart  to  cheer. 


98 

Oh!  those  were  anxious  days  in  this  town 

'Till  the  war  was  ended  at  length 
But  few  come  to  mind  who  were  left  behind 

When  the  soldiers  marched  home  in  their  strength. 

For  temperance  women's  voices  were  raised 

Though  many  attempted  to  drown, 
Their  help  has  been  great  and  up  to  this  date 

We  rejoice  in  a  no-license  town, 
For  years  if  not  always  the  women  have  borne 

The  expenses  within  the  church  doors, 
The  cushions  for  seat  and  keeping  all  neat, 

With  carpets  to  cover  the  floors. 
And  still  they  they  press  forward  year  after  year 

With  efforts  sincere  and  far-reaching 
'Till  the  time  has  come  when  they  have   to  add  some 

To  help  to  support  the  preaching. 

O!  women  of  Monterey,  we  depend, 

On  your  hearts  so  true  and  tender, 
In  the  battle  of  life,  be  you  daughter  or  wife, 

May  you  never  lack  a  defender — 
And  every  one  here  must  give  you  a  cheer; 

If  not,  he's  a  hardened  old  sinner; 
If  you  don't  think  it's  so,  just  go  down  below 

And  partake  of  a  Monterey  dinner! 

The  Berkshire  Courier  says  of  the  intermission,  "  During 
the  noon  intermission  of  nearly  two  hours  the  large  congregation 
partook  of  a  splendid  dinner,  prepared  by  the  ladies  of  the  church, 
and  which  proved  ample  evidence  of  the  fact  that  in  Monterey 
the  good  cooking  for  which  New  England  was  of  old  wont  to  be 
famous  still  prevails,  and  hospitality  as  well." 

The  Thursday  afternoon  session  opened  with  a  song  and 
prayer  service,  led  by  Rev.  Silas  P.  Cook,  county  minister.  Then 
followed  a  very  interesting  address  by  Rev.  Joshua  Coit,  secretary 
of  the  Massachusetts  Home  Missionary  Society.  Mr.  Coit  min- 
gled statistics,  general  information,  and  wit  and  suggestion  of  an 
encouraging  character  in  a  most  delightful  way.    He  so  presented 


99 

their  case  as  to  give  Congregation alists  great  cause  for  pride  in 
the  record  the  church  has  made,  not  only  in  the  fostering  of 
Christianity  but  in  the  establishing  and  maintaining  of  colleges 
of  the  highest  grade. 

AN  ORIGINAL  POEM. 

On  The  One  Hundred  And  Fiftieth  Anniversary  Of  The  First 
Congregational  Church  At  Monterey,  Mass.,  Written  By 
Frances  A.  Orton  Of  Spring  City.  Tenn. 

Re.'^d  By  Miss  Harriet  Bidwell. 

A  century  and  a  half  ago,  our  first  church  stood, 

Bequeathed  by  sires,  whose  reverent,  faithful  hands 

Reared  then  an  altar,  to  the  Christian's  God. 

And  still  this  mission,  and  its  meaning  stands 
For  what  its  founders  trusted  it  would  teach, 
Like  beacon-light,  along  the  path  of  each. 

First  called  to  minister  was  Bidwell,  who  wrought, 

Striving  God's  Justice  and  Truth  to  blend — 

Moulding  them  into  clear,  truthful  thought 

That  the  simple,  unlearned,  might  comprehend. 

While  to  the  red  man,  strayed  hence  from  the  wild, 
He  would  temper  his  speech  as  though  teaching  a  child. 

Or  moved  by  sacred  impulse,  forceful  thought. 

Of  guilt  and  sin, — its  direful  consequence — 

His  voice  of  wondrous  power,  with  pathos  fraught, 

Seemed  to  uplift,  and  rend  the  veil  of  sense. 

In  realistic  ardor,  swayed  his  listeners  there. 
In  awe,  they  saw  heaven  imaged, — or  despair. 

No  meteor-ray  was  his,  fallen  to  earth. 
But  the  full  stead 3^  glow  of  a  fixed  star, 
Whose  radiance  was  the  reflex  of  His  worth 
And  living  presence,  ever-dwelling  near. 

And  in  his  life,  the  Son  of  Righteousness 

Reflected,  shone,  to  light  a  wilderness. 


Many,  here,  inspired  by  holy  zeal,  have  taught 
The  story  old — but  each  with  different  art 
In  word-painting — the  Spirit's  meaning  caught 
And  pictured — and  their  lesson  reached  the  heart, 
Those  consecrated  labors  were  not  vain, 
The  world  has  reaped  a  wealth  of  Godly  gain. 

And  are  we — the  descendants  of  that  race 
Who  nobly  planned,  taught,  sacrificed,  that  we 
Might  follow  in  their  living  faith,  embrace 
That  truth — all  freed  from  doubt  and  mystery  ? 
Let  each  into  the  soul  inquire  if  we 
Are  all  those  fathers  hoped  that  we  might  be  ? 

After  the  solo,  "  Rock  of  Ages,"  by  Mrs.  Bidwell,  a  sermon 
was  delivered  by  Rev.  W.  V.  W.  Davis  of  Pittsfield,  who 
selected  his  text  from  Acts  7:44,  reading  as  follows:  "  Our 
father  had  the  tabernacle  of  witness  in  the  wilderness,  as  he  had 
appointed."  The  sermon  dealt  with  God's  temple  in  its  various 
stages  of  development  and  made  special  application  to  the  sig- 
nificance for  the  community  near  by  and  the  countrj'  at  large  of 
such  a  church  as  that  in  Monterey. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  sermon,  the  Lord's  supper  was 
celebrated  in  an  impressive  manner  by  Rev.  Aaron  W.  Field  of 
New  Marlboro  and  Rev.  Frederick  H.  Lynch  of  Lenox,  and 
Deacons  Hawley  of  Sandisfield  and  Beckwith  of  Great 
Barrington. 

The  exercises  of  the  day  closed  with  the  singing  of  the 
doxology. 

A  supplementary  anniversary  service  was  held  Sunday 
morning,  the  14th,  when,  instead  of  the  usual  sermon,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  were  invited  by  the  pastor  to  deliver 
what  he  called  "little  sermons,"  when  all  who  saw  fit  to  respond 
offered  something  appropriate  to  a  time  of  such  significance  to  a 
church. 

Ten  persons  took  part  in  these  Sabbath  morning  exercises 
and  it  was  felt  to  be  a  time  of  refreshing  for  the  people.  At  this 
meeting  it  was  "unanimously  resolved,  that  the  thanks  of  the 


First  Congregational  Society  of  Monterey  be  given  to  the  visiting 
friends  who  so  kindly  assisted  in  the  exercises  of  the  150th  anni- 
versary, and  also  to  the  members  of  the  press  for  their  great 
courtesy  and  attention  in  reporting  the  proceedings. " 

The  Pittsfield  Sun  kindly  sent  a  reporter  to  remain  during 
the  services  and  over  the  Sabbath  following.  As  a  summing  up 
the  judgment  of  the  Sun  is  thus  given: 

"  As  a  whole,  the  celebration  was  thoroughly  interesting  and 
highly  successful  The  people  of  the  church,  young  and  old, 
male  and  female,  worked  hard  for  the  success  of  the  exercises  and 
joined  heartily  in  them.  The  affair  had  been  carefully  planned, 
and  as  thoroughly  arranged  for,  and  it  all  turned  out  as  had  been 
hoped.  Visiting  ministers  were  very  much  impressed  with  the 
exercises,  very  glad  to  meet  the  people,  and  proud,  those  who 
did,  to  take  part.  And  all  visitors  were  much  pleased  with  their 
cordial  reception,  and  the  care  taken  to  provide  for  their  comfort. 
The  people  seem  to  know  just  how  to  act  as  hosts  and  make  use 
of  their  knowledge.  And  for  themselves  it  was  a  re-awakening 
of  interest,  a  stimulus  to  make  the  history  of  the  church  in  their 
time  equal  to  what  it  has  been. ' ' 

Among  those  from  other  places  attending  the  exercises  were: 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Augustus  Alvord,  Barkhamsted,  Conn.;  Margaret 
Burger,  Housatonic ;  Mrs.  T.  M.  Bliss,  N.  Blanford,  Mass.;  Mrs. 
Dwight  Bradley,  Lee  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reuben  R.  Brewer,  Great 
Barrington  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  H.  Saunders,  Lee;  Mrs.  Miles 
Whitney,  West  Otis  ;  Mrs.  Helen  H.  Heath,  Lee;  Mrs.  Sarah 
O.  Morse,  Lee;  Mary  E.  Langdon,  Hartford;  Rev.  Herbert  K. 
Job,  Kent,  Conn.;  Miss  Caroline  Collins,  Tj^ringham  ;  H.  M. 
Thompson,  Amherst,  Mass.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  B.  Edwards, 
Great  Barrington,  (  Mr.  Edwards  is  a  direct  descendant  of  Jona- 
than Edwards);  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Egbert  M.  Langdon,  Lee;  John 
Alcott,  New  York  City;  Miss  Moore,  Tyringham ;  E.  C. 
Thompson,  Maplewood,  N.  J.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  W.  Beckwith, 
Great  Barrington  ;  Lois  L.  Thomas,  Agawam,  Mass.;  Jennie  T. 
Huntington,  Agawam,  Mass.;  IVtrs.  Frances  A.  Bentley  and  Miss 
Dora  S.  Bentley,  New  Marlboro  ;  Mrs.  Martha  Anderson,  Lyme, 
Conn.;  Mrs.  W.  H.  Minor,  Greenwich,  Conn.;  Mrs.  Libbie  M. 


Stedraan,  Tyringham  ;  Mrs.  Lillian  M.  Brochu,  Great  Barring- 
ton  ;  Mrs.  Ellen  N.  Smith,  New  Marlboro  ;  Mrs.  Charles  A. 
Claflin,  Montville  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  H.  Hawley,  West 
Otis;  M.  D.  Whitney,  Otis;  Mrs.  F.  C.  Richardson,  New  Marl- 
boro; Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Manley,  Otis;  Mrs.  E.  R.  Ward, 
Tyringham;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  M.  Palmer,  Southfield ;  Miss 
Exere  Kasron,  Southfield  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keltam,  Lenox  ;  Mary 
Townsend  Taylor,  Great  Barrington  ;  Miss  Agnes  Geraldyn 
Woods,  Astoria,  Long  Island. 

Letters  were  read  during  the  exercises  from  Mrs.  Mary  Dow 
Hyde,  Pasadena,  Cal.;  Mrs.  Francis  A.  Miller,  Spring  City, 
Tenn.;  Rev.  C.  H.  Parkhurst,  New  York  City  ;  Penuel  Hobbs 
Kalamazoo,  Mich.;  John  S.  Sears,  Pittsfield,  Mass.;  Rev.  Irving 
Withington,  New  York  City;  Mrs.  Henry  W.  Bosworth,  Spring- 
field, Mass.;  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Cochrane,  Stamford,  Conn.;  Mrs. 
Edgar  Denton,  Elmira,  N.  Y.;  O.  B.  Bidwell,  Freeport,  111.; 
Rev.  Martin  W.  Twing,  Alton,  111.;  Chief  Justice  Brewer, 
Washington,  D.  C;  Rev.  Samuel  Hopley,  Lee,  Mass.;  Mrs.  G. 
M.  Todd,  Berea,  Ky.;  J.  M.  Hall,  Pittsfield,  Mass.;  Miss  Bertha 
M.  Fobes,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  Mary  K.  Goewey,  Albany,  N.  Y.; 
Matthew  White,  Jr.,  New  York  City;  Dr.  John  J.  Orton,  Lake- 
ville.  Conn.;  Miss  Alice  T.  Curtis,  Whimand,  Minn.;  Mrs.  John 
Goodrich,  Lee,  Mass.,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Twing,  Litchfield,  Mass.; 
Rev.  T.  A.  Hazen,  Springfield,  Mass.;  Harriet  A.  Walker,  Wel- 
lesley,  Mass.;  J.  G.  Dowd,  Woodbury,  Conn.;  E.  A.  Rogers, 
New  Hartford,  Conn.;  Rev.  Walter  R.  Curtis,  Hubbardston.Vt.; 
Mrs.  Alice  C.  Bidwell,  Boston,  Mass.;  Mrs.  Jennie  Huntington, 
Agawam,  Mass.;  D.  W.  Fowler,  Milwaukee,  Wis.;  Mrs.  S. 
Clark,  New  York  City;  Rev.  William  A.  Fobes,  Worcester, 
Mass.;  Mrs.  Melancthon  Starr,  Rockford.  111.;  Rev.  W.  T. 
Elsing,  New  York  City;  Rev.  George  P.  Pentecost,  D.  D.,  New 
York  City;  H.  R.  Heath,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  August  R.  Smith, 
Lee,  Mass.;  Mrs.  E.  H.  Morse.  North  Clove,  N.  Y.;  Mrs.  M.  H. 
Lamberson,  Evanston,  111.:  William  A.  Howe,  Wapping.  Conn. J 
Mrs.  John  K.  West.  Detroit,  City,  Minn. 

We  give  extracts  from  several  of  these  letters,  assured  that 
our  friends  will  pardon  us  for  the  liberty  we  take  in  thus  doing. 


103 

as  we  believe  that  good  will  result  to  those  who  read,  as  was  the 
case  with  those  who  were  present  at  the  services  when  they  were 
^ead. 

' '  I  was  interested  in  seeing  the  notice  of  the  celebration  of 
the  150th  anniversary  of  the  Church  in  Monterey,  and  thought 
of  my  sainted  father,  Rev.  Townsend  Walker,  whose  early  life 
was  passed  in  Monterey, which  then  went  by  the  name  of  Ty ring- 
ham.  The  church  on  the  hill  was  where  he  used  to  go  to  church, 
and  in  the  adjoining  burying  ground  rest  many  of  the  Townsend 
relatives.  You  cannot  tell  how  glad  I  am  that  you  are  in  Mont- 
erey, where  I  have  such  a  tender  interest.  I  have  been  reading 
to-day  a  history  of  the  Wellesley  Congregational  church,  and  find 
that  it  colonized  from  the  parent  church  in  Needham  where  an 
ancestor.  Rev.  Jonathan  Townsend,  was  the  first  pastor.  His  son 
settled  in  Monterey,  and  my  Grandmother  Walker,  his  daughter, 
was  born  there. 

"  Harriet  A.  Walker,  Wellesley,  Mass." 

' '  We  very  much  regret  that  circumstances  are  such  that  it 
will  be  impossible  for  us  to  be  with  you  at  your  anniversary 
gathering,  and  send  this  greeting  that  our  names  may  be  remem- 
bered as  among  those  who  cherish  tender  and  precious  memories, 
which  will  eyer  bind  us  to  you,  although  our  names  are  not 
enrolled  with  yours. 

' '  As  one  by  one  they  who  have  been  strong  pillars  to  you, 
finish  their  work,  we  pray  that  others  may  be  found  to  fill  the 
places  they  have  left  vacant,  that  the  lamp  of  God  go  not  out 
among  you. 

"  Charles  H.  Twing,  Litchfield,  Conn." 

' '  I  deeply  regret  my  inability  to  be  present  on  this  interest- 
ing occasion,  because  my  maternal  great-great-grandfather,  the 
Rev.  Adonijah  Bidwell,  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  church  150 
years  ago,  and  my  paternal  great-great-grandfather,  Deacon  John 
Jackson,  was  the  first  deacon  of  that  church  150  years  ago, 
"  Dk.  John  Jackson  Orton,  lyakeville,  Conn." 

' '  I  desire  to  send  congratulations  and  greetings  that  God  in 
His  infinite  goodness  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  our  forefathers  to 


I04 

meet  together  in  this  place  to  organize  a  Church  of  Jesus  Christ, 
whose  foundations  have  been  so  abiding,  and  it  is  mj^  heart-felt 
desire  and  prayer  that  your  future  prosperity  shall  more  than 
equal,  with  God's  blessing  the  past  century  and  a-half. 

"  Mrs.  Alice  Townsend  Curtis,  Winona,  Minn." 

' '  My  thoughts  have  been  much  with  you  and  my  prayer  is 
that  this  church,  which  so  long  and  steadily  has  sent  forth 
influences  for  good,  may  continue  to  be  blessed.  Mj'  congratu- 
lations are  extended,  that  during  all  these  150  years  in  each  suc- 
cessive pastorate,  there  has  been  no  deterioration.  It  is  an 
especial  cause  for  thankfulness  that  there  is  such  a  manifest  evi- 
dence that  the  love  and  leading  of  the  kind  Heavenly  Father  is 
not  withdrawn. 

"Mrs.  Alice  C.  Bidwell,  Boston,  Mass." 

' '  I  have  a  love  and  sympathy  for  that  church  greater  than 
for  any  other;  it  was  my  first  church.  I  heard  my  mother  say 
that  I  was  baptized  into  that  church  under  singular  circum- 
stances. At  that  time  there  was  a  great  epidemic  throughout 
the  New  England  States,  so  severe  that  in  some  localities  there 
were  not  well  ones  to  care  for  the  sick  ones  and  great  numbers 
died.  My  father  and  brother  both  died;  my  father  died  a  month 
before  I  was  born.  May  25th,  18 14.  When  four  weeks  old  my 
mother  took  me  to  the  church  to  be  baptised  by  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Warren  Dow,  he  making  some  affecting  remarks,  so  there  was 
not  a  dry  eye  in  the  house.  When  I  was  sixteen  years  old  I 
united  with  the  church  on  profession,  Mr.  Dow  being  pastor  at 
that  time.  I  loved  him  as  a  man,  and  minister;  I  was  with  him 
when  he  died.  I  held  my  church  relation  there  until  1859,  then 
I  removed  to  Kalamazoo,  Michigan.  My  church  relationship 
with  that  church  dates  back  86  years  and  70  years  of  full  mem- 
bership. I  think  it  may  be  further  back  than  any  living 
member,  although  there  mav  be  one  or  more,  older  than  I  am. 
"Penuel  Hobbs,  Kalamazoo,  Mich." 

"  I  can  look  back  thirty-five  years  and  see  a  young  boy  of 
thirteen  summers  seated  in  a  back  seat  of  this  church  on  one 
July  Sunday  afternoon,  and  witnessing  the  receiving  into  church- 


I05 

fellowship  some  young  friends,  and  the  question  came  to  this 
boy,  why  did  not  he  accept  this  life,  and  how  that  question  was 
answered,  the  next  July,  when  on  a  beautiful  Sunday  afternoon, 
we  assembled  on  the  bank  of  the  little  river  here,  and  how  that 
dear  Brother  Clark  buried  this  same  boy  beneath  the  still  waters 
of  the  river  in  Holy  Baptism  and  many  other  things  come  to 
mind,  one  particular  incident  occurred  which  tells  us,  the  j^oung 
little  know  what  the  future  holds  for  them.  As  this  same  boy  was 
one  Sunday  selecting  a  library  book,  his  beloved  teacher  (Brother 
Nathan  Taylor)  told  him  of  a  book,  title  '  The  Life  of  Chloe 
Lankton,'  was  a  good  book.  The  book  was  taken  home  and 
read,  and,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  this  same  boy  from  the  life 
commenced  in  this  church  was  called  to  the  office  of  Deacon  in 
the  church  where  this  same  Chloe  Lankton  lived  and  was  a  mem- 
ber. Holy  Communion  having  to  be  administered  to  her  on  her 
couch  at  her  home,  and  now  at  the  present  time,  this  same  bo}^ 
carries  the  author  of  that  book  to  church  ever)^  Sunday  that  she 
is  able  to  attend. 

"Eugene  A.  Rogers,  New  Hartford,  Conn." 

"  Glad  indeed  was  I  to  be  recognized  as  one  of  its  honored 
descendants.  After  reading  your  circular  it  was  not  hard  for  me 
to  close  my  eyes  and  look  backward  over  the  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  of  patient  toiling  and  I  trust  abundant  reaping.  I  saw 
my  own  dear  precious  father,  Rev.  Joseph  Warren  Dow,  who  (I 
think)  for  eighteen  3'ears  presided  over  that  church,  and  all  the 
devoted  ones  who  had  given  their  lives  and  who  had  been  enabled 
by  God's  grace,  to  erect  this  noble  monument  to  his  memory,  and 
Almighty  power,  and  with  uplifted  heart  I  cried  '  Bless  the  Lord 
O  my  soul,  and  all  that  is  within  me  bless  His  Holy  Name.' 

"I  would  enjoy,  O  so  much,  to  join  3'ou  in  these  services, 
but  this  is  impossible. 

"  MRvS.  Mary  Dow  Hyde,  Pasadena,  Cal." 

' '  I  will  say  that  the  memories  of  those  few  months  I  labored 
with  you  eleven  years  ago  still  give  me  much  pleasure. 

"  I  have  never  known  a  church  since  I  became  interested  in 
Christian  work  more  loyal  to  their  obligations,    more  attentive 


ro6' 

upon  the  church  service,  or  more  devoted  to  the  cause  to  whicb 
they  had  pledged  themselves  than  the  church  at  Monterey,  Mass. 

"  I  there  learned  to  love  the  Congregational  church.  I  felt 
like  saying  '  Thy  people  shall  be  my  people.' 

' '  Since  I  left  you  I  have  heard  from  time  to  time  of  the 
passing  to  the  other  shore  of  several  of  your  members  whose 
voices  I  often  heard  in  testimony  and  prayer,  but  I  believe  you 
can  say  of  them  '  Though  dead  they  yet  speak.' 

"  Walter  R.  Curtis,  Hubbardston,  Vt." 

' '  May  the  name  of  the  blessed  Saviour  be  praised  for  His 
love  to  the  people  of  Monterey  in  permitting  them  to  have  a 
house  of  worship  in  their  midst  for  so  long  a  time ;  and  for  the 
messengers  who  have  gone  forth  in  your  midst  bearing  the  prec- 
ious seed  of  the  word  of  life.  And  may  this  occasion  be  long 
remembered  as  the  beginning  of  a  still  greater  work  for  the 
Master. 

"  Rev.  Irving  Withington,  New  York  City." 

' '  On  account  of  serious  sickness  in  my  family  and  other 
duties  which  need  my  attention  I  don't  think  it  would  be  wise  for 
me  to  try  to  be  present  at  your  anniversary  services.  Although 
absent  in  the  flesh  I  shall  be  present  in  the  spirit,  for  I  have  not 
forgotten  the  little  church  where  I  once  solemnly  and  publicly 
professed  to  be  a  follower  of  the  I^ord  Jesus  Christ,  and  if  I  can 
say  anything  that  will  help  and  encourage  those  who  are  toiling 
for  the  Master  it  will  afford  me  the  greatest  pleasure. 

"  My  parents  and  all  their  children  were  once  members  of 
the  church  you  commemorate  in  this  150th  anniversary.  For 
over  thirty  years  my  father  was  chorister  and  unless  providen- 
tially detained  was  always  punctual  and  prompt,  both  in  the 
choir  and  at  the  prayer-meetings,  and  for  several  years  I  was  the 
only  young  man  that  took  part  in  the  prayer-meetings  and  the 
youngest  male  member  of  the  church.  After  I  became  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school,  I  assumed  the  responsibility  of  cir- 
culating a  subscription  paper,  and  although  begging  is  a  work 
that  I  do  not  enjoy,  yet  I  continued  on  until  the  financial  embar- 
rassments were  all  removed,  and  soon  after  the  Lord  poured  out 
of  his  spirit  richly  and  abundantly,  and  people  began  to  inquire 


in  sincerity  what  they  should  do  to  be  saved,  and  when  I  came 
away  from  town  the  society,  church  and  Sabbath  school  were  in 
a  flourishing  condition  and  I  sincerely  hope  they  are  to-day. 

"J.  G.  DowD." 

' '  My  mind  is  stored  with  pleasant  memories  of  the  church  in 
Monterey  and  very  tender  memories  of  many  of  its  members  some 
of  whom  have  been  already  freed  from  the  body. 

' '  I  hear  with  gladness  of  the  good  times  j^ou  have  together. 
That  these  may  grow  ever  better  is  the  hearty  wish  of 

"  Louise  B.  Denton,  Elmira,  N.  Y." 

"  These  anniversary  exercises  commemorating  all  that  you 
hold  most  sacred,  will  serve  to  emphasize  the  value  of  the 
religious  life. 

"  The  influence  for  good  in  the  century  and  a-half  past  is 
untold,  and  the  inheritance  of  Godliness  is  ever  the  great  gift  of 
the  Christian  church.  We  recall  with  tenderness  the  kindness 
of  your  people  to  my  father  in  his  brief  pastorate,  and  the  sym- 
pathy you  extended  as  he  passed  into  the  '  valley  of  the  shadow 
ofdeath . ' 

"May  the  blessing  of  'one  who  slumbers  not  nor  sleeps' 
abide  with  you  all. 

"  Mary  Hall  Bosworth,  Springfield,  Mass." 

"  Suppose  that  those  who  labored  in  the  organization  of  this 
church  so  long  ago,  with  heart,  and  hand,  and  purse,  (though 
this  last  very  likely  was  but  poorly  filled),  were  permitted  by  our 
Heavenly  Father  to  visit  you  to-day,  and  to  have  all  this  long 
history  set  before  them.  How  would  it  seem  to  them?  Would 
they  feel  they  had  done  wisely  in  this  organization,  or  unwisely? 
Has  this  church  paid  ?  We  cannot  doubt  that  it  cost  them 
heavily,  that  probably  at  no  time  in  its  history  it  has  taken 
more  from  its  supporters  than  in  its  founding.  I  conceive  that 
not  a  man  or  woman  or  child  of  them  all  but  felt  it.  You  who 
are  present  to-day,  know  what  it  costs,  and  has  cost  you  in  sus- 
taining the  church,  and  so  are  fairly  well  qualified  to  judge  how 
in  that  poorer  and  wilder  time,  men  struggled  with  the  problem 
of  its  organization. 

"  Now,  supposing  the  fathers  are  really  with  you  to-day,  and 
can  hear  and  understand  what  you  know.     How  must  it  seem. 


io8 

to  them  ?  Some  of  them  perhaps  gave  grudgingly  for  the  object. 
Do  they  grudge  it  now  ?  Some  of  them  gave  till  they  felt  it 
keenly  in  their  own  persons  and  in  their  households.  Are  they 
saying  to-day  that  they  did  well  in  their  giving  ?  This  church, 
throughout  the  whole  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  of  its  life,  has 
been  a  powerful  force  in  this  community,  to  exalt  and  ennoble 
the  entire  population  about  it. 

' '  The  life  that  its  pulpit  has  always  striven  to  set  forth  as 
the  ideal  one,  has  not  been  attained  even  by  those  who  have 
reached  highest  in  their  strivings.  Still  it  must  have  accom- 
plished results  that  every  good  man  will  look  upon  with  the 
keenest  pleasure.  And  if  this  is  true,  no  one  ought  to  doubt 
that  the  fathers  did  well  in  organizing  this  church.  It  is  then 
for  you  to  look  forward,  and  expect  to  bless  your  future  genera- 
tions as  they  did  theirs. 

"  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Fobes,  Worcester.  Mass." 

"  I  should  be  much  interested  in  the  services,  and  re-union 
of  the  many  friends  and  fellow- w^orkers  in  the  church  and  Society 
in  Monterey. 

"  May  God  bless  the  occasion  to  all  present;  the  Church  be 
stimulated  to  work  with  patient  fidelity,  to  gather  the  fruit  of 
the  seed  sown  in  the  past.  Thus  prepare  for  a  bountiful  harvest 
in  the  near  future. 

"  My  greetings  and  love  to  the  dear  friends. 

"Mrs.  James  A.  Clark,  New  York  City." 

"When  my  uncle.  Rev.  Samuel  Howe,  was  pastor  of  the 
Church  in  Monterey,  I  became  familiar  with  the  church,  the 
hills,  and  the  lake  of  your  beautiful  town.  I  am  unable  to  be 
present  with  you,  much  as  I  should  enjoy  your  celebration.  Rev. 
Samuel  Howe  did  a  good  work  as  your  pastor.  During  his 
pastorate,  the  parish  of  South  Tyringham  became  the  town  of 
Monterey,  and  the  present  church  edifice  was  erected.  A  por- 
tion of  the  church  members  did  not  like  the  change  of  location, 
and  they  fitted  up  the  old  church  edifice,  and  for  some  time 
kept  up  separate  worship.     My  uncle  purchased  a  pleasant  home 


I09 

in  Lakewood,  N.  J.,  where  he  died  September  28,    1874.     His 
remains  lie  buried  in  his  native  town,  Greenwich,  Conn. 

"It  is  well  to  recall  the  past  as  you  will  do.  The  fathers 
laid  a  good  foundation  and  did  a  work  which  the  children  should 
remember.  Wishing  you  an  enjoyable  reunion  and  that  it  may 
be  a  success. 

"  William  A.  Howe,  Wapping,  Conn." 

' '  I  most  earnestly  hope  you  will  have  a  blessed  and  success- 
ful time  during  the  two  days  set  apart  to  thank  God  and  honor 
the  memory  of  the  noble  men  and  women  who  have  given  to  the 
present  inhabitants  of  Monterey  one  of  the  most  precious  legacies, 
a  Christian  church,  and  a  community  where  a  Christian  sentiment 
prevails.  The  former  members  of  the  Monterey  church  not  only 
kept  alive  their  own  faith,  but  by  standing  together  and  keeping 
up  church  and  Sunday  school  privileges,  they  made  Monterey 
a  desirable  place  to  live  in  at  the  present  time.  The  best  and 
only  way  we  can  show  our  gratitude  is  to  hand  down  to  our 
children  the  same  blessings  which  the  early  founders  of  the 
church  have  given  to  us. 

"  I  trust  the  inspiration  which  comes  from  these  services 
will  greatly  strengthen  the  church  work  at  Monterey. 

"  W.  T.  Elsing,  New  York." 

"As  it  is  not  probable  that  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of 
being  present  on  that  eventful  occasion,  I  can  only  express  to 
you  my  very  sincere  thanks  for  the  invitation,  and  manifest  the 
interest  that  I  feel  by  writing  5'ou  a  letter,  to  express  to  you  the 
interest  that  I  have  in  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  the  old 
church,  in  whose  pews  I  sat  as  a  child,  under  the  ministrations 
of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Howe,  one  of  its  pastors  in  the  early  fifties. 
In  its  Sunday  school,  I  was  a  pupil,  where  I  was  taught  the 
lessons  of  truth  and  righteousness,  which  I  trust  I  have  not 
entirely  forgotten  to  this  day. 

"It  is  with  feelings  of  veneration  that  I  think  of  this 
society,  which  has  now  been  established  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years.  Near  the  site  of  the  original  edifice,  my  father  was  born, 
my  grandfather  died,  and  was  given  Christian  burial  by  its 
pastor,  and  his  mortal  remains  were  interred  in  the  old  church 


cemetery,  located  near  the  site  of  the  ancient  edifice.  On  his 
tomb-stone  may  still  be  seen  these  words,  written  by  whom,  I 
know  not,  expressing  his  belief  in  immortalit}-, 

"  Ripe  for  heaven,  his  soul  ascending  flew, 
And  early  bid  this  sinful  world  adieu, 
Short  was  his  stay,  the  longer  is  his  rest. 
In  the  eternal  mansions  of  the  blest." 

"  It  is  pleasant  to  think  of  the  sphere  of  usefulness,  of  this 
ancient  and  venerable  society,  which  has  now  existed  for  a  period 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  years,  and  which  we  trust  may  continue 
for  an  indefinite  period  to  come,  to  shed  its  beneficent  influences, 
on  the  children  of  men,  to  console  the  living,  comfort  the  sick 
and  dying,  and  give  Christian  burial  to  the  dead. 

"  In  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  may  it  continue  to  give  forth 
freely,  the  comforting  assurances,  and  promises  of  the  Christian 
religion,  to  each  generation  of  men  in  their  order,  until  the  end 
of  time.  I  trust  its  mission  will  long  continue,  and  that  it  will 
continue  to  cherish  the  simple  and  earnest  faith,  established  by 
our  fathers,  amid  the  privations  and  perils  that  surrounded  them 
in  their  struggle  for  existence  among  the  rock-ribbed  hills  of 
your  ancient  commonwealth. 

"  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  thousands  may  yet  find  peace,  com- 
fort and  joy  to  their  souls,  within  its  sanctuary,  and  infinite 
pleasure  in  the  society  of  the  good  people  who  compose  its 
membership. 

'•  I  greet  all  the  members  of  this  congregation,  with  a  cor- 
dial greeting:  Unknown  as  I  am,  to  the  most  of  its  membership 
of  to-day,  yet  I  feel,  that  as  I  was  once  of  your  number,  so  am  I 
still,  in  a  measure,  as  the  fond  ties  established  in  childhood  can 
never  be  entirely  obliterated,  while  life  remains. 

"D.  W.  Fowler,  Milwaukee,  Wis." 

"I  remember  that  it  was  mentioned  in  the  funeral  sermon 
of  our  great-grand-father,  Mr.  Samuel  Townsend,  that  he  con- 
tributed generously  towards  the  church  in  its  very  beginning. 
And   I   am   proud  to  believe  that  his  descendants  have   always 


valued  most  highly  those  interests  for  which  a  church  of  Christ 
stands. 

"  And  so  on  that  winter's  day  when  your  present  building 
was  to  be  dedicated,  our  mother  with  her  little  family  went  from 
our  Barrington  home  to  attend  the  dedication  of  the  new  "meet- 
ing-house ' '  and  hear  the  sermon  of  the  eminent  author  and 
divine,  Rev.  John  Todd  of  Pittsfield.  His  text  was  Ezra  3:1 1-13. 
I  can  see  him  now,  his  commanding  form,  rugged  countenance, 
and  perceiving  eye.  As  a  child  of  eight  years  I  do  not  recall 
much  of  his  sermon  beyond  the  illustrations  by  which  he  explained 
the  contrast  between  the  feelings  of  those  who  in  their  childhood 
had  seen  the  glory  of  the  first  temple,  and  those  who  had  by  their 
own  efforts  begun  the  foundations  of  a  second  temple.  He  said 
'  when  we  were  boys,  a  hill  up  which  we  drew  our  sleds  seemed 
a  very  long  hill  but  now  we  wonder  that  it  ever  seemed  much  of 
:a  hill.  And  how  much  money  a  hundred  dollars  was  to  us  chil- 
dren !  It  seemed  a  fortune  !  We  thought  we  could  do  a  great 
many  things  if  we  had  a  hundred  dollars.  But  the  hundred 
dollars  does  not  look  very  large  to  us  now.'  There  must  be 
few  left  who  were  present  on  that  occasion  and  very  few  who 
bear  the  Townsend  name.  We  congtatulate  tho.se  who  remain 
that  they  have  so  bravely  and  steadil)'  kept  the  Gospel  light 
burning  at  the  cost  of  self-sacrifice  and  struggles,  and  trust  that 
the  memories  of  this  anniversarj-  ma}'  inspire  to  still  greater 
achievements  in  the  Master's  ser\nce. 

"Mary  C.  Townsend  and 

"Mrs.  Malanthon  Starr,  Rockford,  111." 

"I  suppose  that  reminiscences  are  the  order  of  the  hour.  I 
have  my  own  treasured  hoard  of  recollections,  pleasant  and  pro- 
fitable, of  my  acquaintance  with  and  membership  in  this  church. 
As  I  recall  the  earliest  impressions  of  my  boyhood  it  seems  to  me 
that  the  church  was  especially  rich  in  the  possession  of  a  consid- 
erable number  of  men  of  unimpeachable  integrity  of  character 
-and  unusual  devoutness  of  spirit,  even  though  some  of  them 
-possessed  some  eccentricities. 

"Among  the  number  I   recall    Dea.    Thos.    Hale,    Luther 


Marcy,  John   Orton,   Barnabas    Bidwell,  Dea.    Jonathan    Town- 
send  and  others,  not  to  mention  the  names  of  some  now  living. 

' '  Of  the  pastors  I  seem  to  have  much  less  clear  recollections. 
Whether  it  was  because  they  were  less  permanent,  or  whether 
there  was  some  fault  in  my  powers  of  attention,  or  whether  they 
lacked,  as  some  later  pastors  do,  the  power  to  interest  the  boys, 
I  am  unable  to  say.  I  might  recall  the  names  of  several  but  they 
would  be  names  and  little  more  to  me. 

' '  But  the  most  sacred  associations  in  my  mind  in  regard  to 
this  church  are  due  to  the  fact  that  this  was  my  spiritual  birth- 
place. Here  I  first  learned  the  joy  of  surrender  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  and  the  acceptance  of  free  pardon  for  sin.  Here 
were  experienced  the  new  joys  of  discipleship  and  the  fellowship 
of  the  Lord's  people.  If  memory  serves  accurately  it  was  in 
September,  1874,  after  listening  to  a  sermon  by  Rev.  O.  L.  Leon- 
ard on  the  parable  of  the  lost  sheep  that  I  reached  the  decision 
that  turned  the  current  of  my  life.  I  have  always  felt  specially 
grateful  for  the  influences  which  surrounded  my  early  Christian 
life  in  this  church.  My  companions  were  of  the  helpful  sort,  and 
the  interest  and  confidence  expressed  by  the  older  members  of 
the  church  were  of  great  value. 

' '  It  was  here  that  impressions  were  received  which  grew 
into  convictions  which  led  at  length  to  the  Gospel  Ministry. 

'*So  I  offer  to-day  my  sincere  and  grateful  tribute  to  the 
beneficent  ministry  of  this  church  as  experienced  in  my  own  life. 
And  what  it  has  done  for  me  it  has  done  for  many  others  as  you 
will,  no  doubt,  have  evidence  in  many  ways  during  these  days  of 
your  celebration. 

"Martin  W.  Twing,  Monterey,  Mass." 

"  More  than  twenty  years  have  passed  since  my  husband 
went  in  and  out  before  you  as  pastor,  just  twenty  3^ears  now  since 
we  left  you  for  another  field. 

' '  Two  of  our  children  were  born  in  the  old  house  of  Grand- 
pa Bidwell 's,  where  we  lived.  One,  Mabel,  left  us  for  heaven 
eight  years  ago;  the  other,  Ruth,  is  now  at  Oberlin  college. 
Two  others  came  to  us  afterward.  One,  our  oldest,  Ernest,  will 
be  remembered  by  some  of  you  as  a  regular  attendant  at  church 


113 

when  not  yet  two  years  old,  and  very  quiet  and  sedate  even 
then.  He  is  now  my  main-stay,  teaching  the  same  branches  in 
our  college  which  his  father  taugjit,  Ijut  hoping  for  further  study 
later.  The  younger  ones  are  with  me  and  all' in  school  save  one, 
baby  Margaret,  seven  years  old,  who  does  her  studying  as  yet  at 
home.  Ethel,  Mary  and  Alvvin  are  the  names  of  the  others. 
So  much  for  my  family,  in  whom  I  know  you  will  be  somewhat 
interested. 

"Two  years  ago  last  January,  the  thirtieth,  my  husband 
left  me  for  the  better  home.  Were  he  but  here,  how  gladly 
would  he  send  greetings  and  recall  with  me  the  pleasant  memor- 
ies of  those  days  when  we  visited  among  our  people  !  The  Bid- 
wells,  the  Townsends,  the  Dowds,  the  Thomsons,  the  Twings, 
the  Brochus.  the  Langdons,  the  Miners,  the  Stedmans,  I  cannot 
name  them  all.  but  have  the  pleasantest  recollections  of  the 
kindly  courtesies  received.  Many  of  the  dear  friends  have  gone 
to  ^heir  rewards,  but  I  am  assured  that  the  younger  generation  is 
nobly  taking  the  place  of  the  fathers,  and  the  church  founded 
one  hundred  and  fift}^  years  ago  is  doing  the  Lord's  work  as 
surely  as  in  olden  times. 

"  Changes  and  trials  come  to  us  all,  but  as  certainly  as  they 
come  do  we  know  that  '  underneath  are  the  everlasting  arms.' 

"  I  think  I  cannot  send  you  a  message  which  will  better 
carry  to  you  my  desires  for  you  than  the  words  of  the  text  which 
our  pastor  chose  for  his  sermon  to-day,  '  Be  strong  and  of  good 
courage,  fear  not,  nor  be  afraid  ;  for  the  Lord  thy  God,  he  it  is 
that  doth  go  with  thee  ;  he  will  not  fail  thee  nor  forsake  thee.' 
"Gertrude  M.  Todd.  Berea,  Kv." 


"  As  I  can  hardly  hope  to  be  with  you  at  this  very  interest- 
ing time,  I  do  wish  as  a  native  of  the  town  to  express  my  grati- 
tude for  the  good  influences  and  Christian  knowledge  that  I 
received  when  a  child  through  the  means  of  this  church,  and 
while  I  was  obliged  to  leave  the  Berkshire  hills  in  my  youth  over 
38  years  ago,  I  have  never  forgotten  the  noble,  devout,  faithful 
Christians  belonging  to  the  church  at  that  time.  Few  of  that 
flock  are  now  here,   most  of  them  are  members  of  the  heavenly 


114 
company.  I  trust  and  pray  that  the  coming  generations  may 
inherit  the  Christian  zeal  and  spirit  of  their  forefathers,  and  that 
the  old  church  may  live  and  continue  to  be  a  power  for  good  in 
the  town,  and  that  many  will  gather  at  your  150th  anniversary' 
and  that  the  Holy  Spirit  will  be  in  your  midst,  and  the  occasion 
will  long  be  remembered,  and  a  record  made  of  the  past  history, 
and  left  as  a  heritage  for  those  who  come  after. 

"  H.  R.  Heath,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y." 

"  I  have  the  circular  letter  issued  by  your  committee  of 
arrangements  inviting  us  to  the  gathering,  October  loth  and  nth, 
of  the  old  members  and  friends  of  the  First  Congregational  Society 
of  Monterey.  As  I  reply,  I  see  standing  in  my  hall  the  chair 
long  used  by  your  first  pastor,  my  honored  Great-Grandfather, 
the  Reverend  Adonijah  Bid  well,  whose  pastorate  extended  from 
1750  to  1784,  the  year  of  his  death.  It  is  a  satisfaction  to  look 
back  upon  so  long  a  pastorate  and  so  honorable  a  record  as  his 
was.  As  I  do  it  to-day  I  see  the  hills  of  Monterey,  ( then  called 
No.  I.  and  afterwards  named  South  Tyringhani  )  covered  by 
prosperous  farms,  and  I  remember  well  the  names  of  the  first  set- 
tlers which  became  a  credit  to  their  posterity  :  Brewer,  Garfield, 
Hale,  Townseud,  Taylor,  Orton,  Miner,  Langdon,  Bidwell,  and 
many  others,  and  I  feel  a  touch  of  pride  as  I  recall  them  ;  for 
they  gave  a  character  to  the  town  which  their  descendants  may 
remember  with  gratitude.  They  were  the  founders  of  the  church 
and  society  whose  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  you  now 
celebrate. 

"  In  the  old  meeting  house  on  the  hill  I  was  baptized,  and 
admitted  to  its  membership  when  thirteen  years  of  age  in  the 
notable  revival  of  1842.  In  the  new  church  in  the  village,  where 
you  now  meet,  I  was  married  and  there  two  of  my  children  were 
baptized. 

' '  Very  dear  and  precious  memories  are  associated  with  all 
the  history  of  this  church  ;  from  its  organization  by  my  reverend 
ancestor  through  all  the  century  and  a-half  of  its  existence,  to 
the  present  time  ;  for  many  of  my  kindred  and  name  have  con- 
tinually enjoyed  its  privileges  and  aided  in  its  support. 

"  After   forty-five  years  absence  from    M'onterey   there    are 


115 
tew  —  ver\-  few  —  left  w^lio  even  know  my  name  ;  but  to  them  and 
to  you  all  I  send  most  curdial  greetings. 

' '  I  want  to  add  my  sincere  wishes  for  your  growth  and  pros- 
perity, and  influence  in  the  years  to  come.  I  trust  one  good 
eifect  of  this  gathering  of  loyal  sons  and  daughters  of  the  old 
Church  will  be  an  awakening  of  Monterey  to  all  the  good 
influences  which  the  Church  of  Christ  brings  to  its  homes,  and 
to  a  new  interest  in  its  welfare  and  support. 

"Orlando  B.  Bidwell,  Freeport,  111." 

"I  congratulate  you  upon  the  completion  of  a  century  and 
a-half  of  honorable  history.  My  congratulations  are  the  more 
hearty  because  I  have  been  privileged  to  know  the  character  of 
the  men  and  women  produced  by  the  ministry  of  the  Monterey 
church.  Certainh-  the  community  and  the  nation,  jes  even  the 
world,  had  been  much  poorer  had  there  been  no  church  there. 

' '  But  what  a  vantage  ground  for  the  future  1  Remembering 
humbly  and  gratefully  the  divine  blessings  of  the  past,  it  is  your 
privilege  still  to  '  press  on  toward  the  goal  unto  the  prize  of  the 
high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.' 

"  Irving  A.   Burnap,  Fitchbiug,  Penn." 

Pastor  in  Montere^v  from  1892-97. 


r  1 6 
THE  PURITANS'  CHRISTMAS. 

Their  only  thought  religion. 

What  Christinas  joj's  had  they, 
The  stern,  stanch  Pilgrim   Fathers  who 

Knew  naught  of  holiday  ? 

A  log  church  in  the  clearing 

'Mid  solitudes  of  snow, 
The  wild  beast  and  the  wilderness. 

And  lurking  Indian  foe 

No  time  had  they  for  pleasure, 

Whom  God  had  put  to  school ; 
A  sermon  was  their  Christmas  cheer, 

A  psalm  their  only  Yule. 

They  deemed  it  jov  sufficient  — 

Nor  would  Christ  take  it  ill  — 
That  service  to  himself  and  God 

Employed  their  spirits  still. 

And  so  through  faith  and  prayer 

Their  powers  were  renewed, 
And  souls  made  strong  to  shape  a  world 

And  tame  a  solitude. 

A  type  of  revolution, 

Wrought  from  an  iron  plan, 
In  the  largest  mold   of   liberty 

God  cast  the  Puritan. 

A  better  land  they  founded, 

That  Freedom  had  for  bride. 
The  shackles  of  old  despotism 

Struck  from  her  limbs  and  side. 

With  faith  within  to  guide  them, 

And  courage  to  perform, 
A  nation  from  a  wilderness 

They  hewed  with  their  strong  arm. 

For  liberty  to  worship. 

And  right  to  do  and  dare. 
They  faced  the  savage  and  the  storm 

With  voices  raised  in  prayer. 

For  God  it  was  who  summoned, 

And  God  it  was  who  led. 
And  God  would  not  forsake  the  love 

That  must  be  clothed  and  fed. 

Great  need  had  they  of  courage. 

Great  need  of  faith  had  they 
And  lacking  these  —  how  otherwise 

For  us  had  been  this  day  ! 

—  Madison  Carvein,  in  Myth  and  Romance. 


I  EDGEHIRSL 


WILLIAM  S.  BIDWELL,  PROPRIETOR. 

MONTEREY,  MASS. 

OPEN  ALL  THE  YEAR. 
ACCOMMODATIONS  FOR  J5. 

TERMS  FROM  $7  TO  $10  PER  WEEK. 

BOATS  FREE  TO  GUESTS. 

The  Maples. 

MRS.  W.  E.  BUMP. 

MONTEREY,  MASS. 

SIX  ROOMS.  TERMS  $6  TO  $8  PER  WEEK. 

OPEN   JUNE  tst  TO  OCTOBER  tst. 

/nbaple  Xawn. 

Hccommo&atfons  fov  Sty. 

plain  Country  Ibome  in  ^farmer's  jf amil^. 

XTcrms,  $5  an&  $6  per  XKHeeft. 

nONTEREY,  MASS. 

Real  Estate. 


Parties  wishing:  to  lease  or  rent  cottages,  furnished 
or  unfurnished  for  the  season,  or  parties  wishing: 
to  purchase  larg:e  or  small  farms,  or  lots  on  lake 
front,  or  small  building  sites,  will  receive  special 
attention  by  addressing: 

44c«4  GEORGE  L.  KEYES. 

MONTEREY,  MASS. 


"The  Pines," 

Accommodations  for  40. 

FirstisCIass  Table,  Beds,  Etc. 
Terms  $7  to  $10.  Modern  Conveniences. 

APPI,Y  TO 

HEINRV   CUAPP. 

MONTEREY,  flASS. 


LAKE  GARFIELD 

FARM.        H.  P.  FARGO,  PROPRIETOR. 


MONTEREY,  MASS. 

A  limited  number  of  Boarders,  $i  per  day.  Picnic 
Grounds,  Boats,  Good  Fishing.  Live  Bait  a  Specialty, 
Summer  and  Winter.  Camping  Grounds  and  Houses. 
Daily  Mail  passes  the  house. 

Three-Quarters  Mile  From  Church  and  Store. 

Fresh  Eggs,  Vegetables  and  Pure  Milk. 


PROSPECT  HILL. 


Accommodates  15  to  20  guests. 

First-Class  Table,  Extensive  Grounds. 

One  Mile  From  Church  and  Store. 

Vegetables,  Eggs,  Milk,  Etc.,  Raised  on  the  Farm. 

Terms,  $j  to  |8  per  week,  $1.50  per  day. 

HENRY  WOODS,  Proprietor. 

MONTEREY,  ;VIASS. 


LIVERY  AND  SALE  STABLES. 


Single  and  Double  Rigs  for  Hire  with  or  without 
Drivers;  Horses  bought,  sold  or  exchanged  for 
private  parties.  Visitors  to  Monterey  met  at  the 
Train  on  Reasonable  Terms. 

FRANCIS  G.  HEATH. 

MONTEREY,  MASS. 


